Equestria Girls - State Of Emergencyby EliteLenny223ChaptersPrologueSetting awareness (Part 1)Setting awareness (Part 2)Setting awareness (Part 3)The Apple Sweetest in FriendshipSHORT #1 - “My Midnight of Another Star”AppleJack Reboot – Part 1AppleJack Reboot – Part 2PrologueSimple events that have been going around on the inhabitants of Canterlot city have barely been noticed, but they don’t really know that there was always a high-tech government body watching each of its citizens. And out of that government body comes an agency that makes sure to contain information that is sure to cause panic. They make sure talks of new phenomena that entered the city in the later part of year 2017 was heavily regulated. Digital information can be deciphered out of its most encrypted state, and it can be translated, before the information that comes out of it is given a purpose, whether it serves as a threat or a benefit. To that agency, it was a benefit and a threat; a benefit to those who try to not cause panic to neighboring states, and a threat if it lands in the wrong hands. Because of this, it was eventually concluded that events concerning Canterlot City were to be treated as non-threatening, but in exchange must be protected. February 21, 2018... a Wednesday... 0915 hours... Just at a distance away from Canterlot High’s front courtyard was a parked white Heavy SUV. A light-brown haired light-orange eye-colored man who wearing a black suit was on the driver’s seat, while another man younger than the first with white hair and blue eyes was more energetic because of his hand and finger movements. The first was patient as he looked at the courtyard. The older man in his age of 29 years looked at the other who is 24. “You know you didn’t have to come with me, Chadwick.” Chadwick shrugged while he looked at his companion. “Could be an opportunity. How many times last year has it been since you’ve been in contact with Celestia?” “Since last year,” the other man replied. “Well... Longer if you think of our history. She was offered a position to be an analyst, but she’d rather in her experience be a teacher for real. Can’t blame her.” “Isn’t she a Principal?” “Yeah, next to the VP, Luna. Though... Celestia’s the type who gets things done. She sometimes teaches, but she’s mostly the principal she’s definitely working for. Remember. Institutions tend to have better folks who work hard if they’re motivated.” The man replied this before he opened the driver side door of the SUV. “Wait here, Chadwick. Won’t be long.” “Charlie, wait. You need me.” Chadwick said that, but received a glare in exchange. “Tch. Fine.” “You sometimes trip with your two left feet, Chadwick. That’s unbecoming of an agent, but I tolerate it because you’re something else. Now... wait here.” Charlie then got out of the SUV before closing the door, walking towards the front courtyard sighing on what he had thought of Chadwick. He thought of the younger agent as someone who’s capable. It’s just the smallest things about how Chadwick trips because he doesn’t watch how he walks. Shaking his head, Charlie shook off the thoughts as he went the double glass doors of the school before entering inside. The connecting hallways of the school were empty, so he knew more or less that the students were in class. He then reviewed in his mind of what Canterlot High is to him. It’s big and it has its own dorm rooms, since since some of the girls here were only enrolled but were not given homes in the city or the residential spots. Looking around, he passed the trophy case that signals the students of the school were earning achievements, both for themselves and for the school. That’s while they all know of what the school’s students had experienced several months prior. And it’s what he wanted to discuss about with a notable principal in the school. When he approached what he believed was the principal’s office door, he knocked first just before he heard a woman’s voice from the other side telling him to come in. Invited, Charlie opens the door and peeks his head in. Seeing the woman seated behind the desk with long hair having multiple bright colors divided vertically, and her purple eyes looking at a newspaper. He saw her writing something on one part of the newspaper using her pencil, and he figured she was answering puzzles. The woman spoke first when Charlie was about to say something. And she was still looking at her newspaper before getting something from her desk. “Welcome. Just a minute.” Charlie quietly sighed before coming in and gently closing the door as he saw the woman look for something in her desk. “Principal Celestia?” Celestia hears him call out to her before she held a brush and brushed her hair to smooth it out. And when she looked up to him, her face instantly was filled with shock. Looking at him in the eyes, she began to glare and stood up from her seat. “Special Agent Darwin,” Celestia said a little aloud than how she speaks. “Y-You’re here-? What are you-?” “Just... call me Charlie.” Charlie then approached and took a seat in front of the principal’s desk. “And... I have to very much get straight to business.” “Slow down, Charlie. First off... We talked about this. No one knows in the school knows who you are and they could ask questions. You said yourself that you’re not going to come, yet here you are.” Celestia had a tone a little raised because of what she felt: annoyed. She brushed her hair while taking away the newspaper in her desk drawer. She sat back down and sighed. “I was hoping we wouldn’t meet like this. You could have called.” Charlie then took something out of his suit and held a folder. It catches the attention of Celestia before he replied. “First off... Don’t worry about me. I slip in and out of buildings unnoticed and I know how to keep my tracks covered. And second... This might just be the only time I would show you this.” He then hands the folder to her, gently sliding the folder on her desk before seeing her hold it. And when she opened the folder, she winced at what her sight showed her. “I couldn’t risk sending them without being intercepted by a rival internet hack. So I had to do things the old fashioned way.” Celestia was clearly seeing colored pictures, of distant images focused on two particular girls, who she recognized as her students in Canterlot High. One had orange and yellow highlighted hair while the other had dark purple and light indigo highlighted hair wearing glasses. And from what the pictures describe, they were the only pictures taken, and were taken at multiple locations, in a sweets cafe, out in the outdoors, and just at the school courtyard. “Wait a minute... Are they-?” “Keep looking,” Charlie said. And Celestia browsed into the photos deeper before she came across bigger photos that in all purposes, made her feel nervous. She saw a picture of a tree-bark dome out in the woods, a picture of rainbow lasers reaching to the sky, and some blurred pictures of winged humanoids that weren’t all clear. Though in some smaller photos regarding the winged humanoids, she can see the notable ones were Midnight Sparkle and Daylight Shimmer. “What is this?” “That, Principal Celestia, is a collection of photos that were decrypted from another source’s hard drive, one whose owner had actually been working for quite an individual here in Canterlot City... Mayor Lisa Warren.” “What-? You’re not telling me she’s onto us, are you?” Celestia asked this out of nervousness. “Just... Listen first. Look, you called on favors which caught my attention and I’m doing this to protect the school, and its students, and Canterlot City for that matter. Mayor Warren’s role in collecting information is purely of another purpose. We didn’t even know she was collecting info privately, and this was since several months ago. Celestia... I’m just making sure you’re aware of it yourself, knowing this school had face its fair share of attacks out of abused magic. “Warren’s trusted private investigator made sure to keep the drives encrypted since he’s former military. He doesn’t like any of his data being exposed just like that. But if the Mayor knows her employees and wants accurate info, she’s got a reason. And for whatever reason, I can’t intervene. Not yet.” “Charlie?” “Principal Celestia, I’m gonna frank with you. I only have two teams in my disposal who are covering for you, with myself included as operational leader. It’s not in our extension to immediately exploit any of Mayor Warren’s assets unless we got authority or orders that we’ll even compensate on what we got. She’s an upstanding citizen of the country. With that said, I’m going to give you heavy advice. If you ever feel a presence of them observing you, best you prepare yourself and your students. You told me specifically that those seven girls were the source, the immediate danger, and the immediate saviors of other students here. We don’t know Warren’s play is after observing, but we’re sure she’s going to use what she found one way or another for something. But with lack of evidence... We can’t find any conclusion. For that, I’m sorry.” Charlie ended what he needed to say and stood up from his seat. “I suggest you burn those photos after you’re done with them.” Celestia was looking seriously at the photos even after Charlie had given her advice on what she needed to do. Then she raised her eyes to his and kept a firm stance on what she believes. “Not yet.” Charlie raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?” “If my students are in a certain form of danger, I’d still have to allow them to continue their lives as usual for as long as it would last. But as you said, it’s best I prepare them if the worst comes. Charlie, I’ll have to keep the photos.” “Hm. You’re gonna show the girls?” “Well... I have a plan to break it down slowly at best. And... I know the first of the seven who I could talk to. Best you’re here to talk to her too to explain things.” Celestia said this and immediately saw Charlie take a small step back. This made Celestia feel a little disgusted. “Charlie, you’ve got to help. You’re giving me this much help, so it’s impossible you can’t be unknown to the girls. One way or another, secrets can’t remain secret.” “Celestia, do you even know what the heck you’re saying?! Of course secrets can’t remain secret! But I’m higher up than Mayor Warren and the food chain!” Charlie replied with his voice a little higher than usual to make a point. He then continued. “I’m just making sure to cover all bases here. If I jeopardize myself-” Celestia stands up and puts the folder down to interrupt him, letting some of the photos scatter off the desk as she looked at him, having this emotion of fear somehow drawn on her face. “Please... I don’t want anything bad to happen to them. This is for their protection too, as well as the school’s. They treated everyone here like family. And that protective barrier we’d create will make it more probable we’ll all endure in spite of what the world would think. Charlie... This isn’t just their secret we’re protecting. It’s the secret of the school that chose to make it a secret for them, a token of gratitude after what they’ve done. It’ll be harder if I do this without you. Please.” She paused to see that Charlie himself couldn’t react properly. She even saw him look away and she walked off the desk before stopping front of him. Putting her hand on his shoulder, she sees him look back at her. “You’ve got to see reason. Deep down, I see the girls like they’re my daughters, especially Sunset Shimmer who’s changed ever since.” Charlie has his doubts but he witnessed in her eyes that she’s more than just expressing sincerity. She has a point. If he doesn’t intervene to closely assist her in talking to the girls and making himself known, how would he be protecting them, in light of the Mayor’s investigating party keeping both eyes on Canterlot High? He sighs and tells her answer, in a form of a question. “What’s that plan you got in mind?” At this, Celestia smiled. “Listen carefully,” she said. 1218 hours... Just outside at the Canterlot High statue at the front courtyard, one side of the square platform became liquid thanks to it becoming fluid with a dimensional gate’s opening. Out came a girl wearing casual attire, having dark purple hair and highlighted light-indigo strands. She smiled before muttering to herself. “Finally, I’m back.” Setting awareness (Part 1)February 21, 2018... a Wednesday... 1222 hours... Cafeteria is somehow full with students eating up lunch. It’s not an unusual time for the meal as everyone is relaxed. In most of their minds, finishing up with morning classes was like lifting a full ton of their brains. Sunset Shimmer having the orange-yellow streak hair was seated together with her friends. She felt like smiling, but somehow she felt a little off. That time, wasn’t something as she’d felt positive of. Because of that, a frown easily came on her face. Twilight who was wearing glasses on the table noticed Sunset’s frown and decided to move near her friend before speaking up. “Sunset? Are you okay?” Then as Sunset looked at Twilight, she smiled but it later faded to a frown again. “I’d love to say yes, but no. Now that I think about it... Well... Let’s just say I was... feeling heavier. Twilight... I gotta ask you something. You remember your days in Crystal Prep, right?” She observed Twilight nodding and continued. “How’d you feel when you were getting so much knowledge you needed? And... it includes how excited you were about what you were finding in CHS back then.” At this, Twilight raised an eyebrow. She had something in mind for that. “Sounds like you wanna be reminded of that. But...” She was curious. “What’s with the sudden question to muse over about me?” “Just finding something common. I got something in my mind. I just don’t know how I’d share it yet. Does it help?” After Sunset asked, Twilight just shrugged her shoulders. She then decided to speak up to answer. “Well... Finding new stuff back then especially when I was an ace in academics, made me feel excited of the future. And...When I was trying to find the energy I didn’t know then was magic, I kept pushing myself to know more. It... made me all the more possessive with what I was back then. And... Post-Friendship games happened. I’m not so sure gaining too much knowledge helps balance someone. I had to give myself something instead, and that’s how I realized I NEED friends.” As Twilight finished explaining her answer, she noticed Sunset wasn’t looking at her. Though she knew Sunset listened, she saw that Sunset was thinking of something deep. “Wait... Is it THAT deep?” Then Sunset briefly looked at Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack talking about random things. Laughs came from them and they didn’t look her way. Deciding something for herself, Sunset stands up first from the table. “I’m sorry, but I gotta go. I don’t feel hungry right now.” “Huh? Hey, wait-!” But Twilight didn’t finish as Sunset was already leaving. Applejack noticed it herself and scratched her head before looking at Twilight. “Sometimes it takes time before she gets her head straight. Don’t worry, she’ll come ‘round.” Twilight sighs hearing Applejack’s statement. “I hope you’re right.” As Sunset herself left through the double-doors of the cafeteria into a school hallway, she figured she’d keep walking to distract herself, only to stop in surprise. Another girl who appeared exactly like Twilight was in front of her, wearing a completely different set of casual clothes. And then there’s a dog who was purple in fur color right beside this Twilight. At that, Sunset smiled and walked right up to her. “Princess Twilight!” Eventually, the Princess approached Sunset and both of them hugged each other, both feeling glad. It’s been a while since Princess Twilight had visited, and that was quite the time for her to arrive. When Sunset pulled away from the hug, she winced. “Hold up… You didn’t tell me you were coming.” “I wanted it to be a surprise,” replied Princess Twilight. “Besides, I kinda know on your letters to me that even if you’re tight with our friends, there’s bound to be some rocky things coming up.” “You know… You missed a lot ever since. Winning a video competition… Actually watching the video… Then there’s that time when we were camping and we-” Twilight only chuckled. “You can tell me things I don’t know of yet. Relax. I’m caught up.” Sunset chuckled back but the smile she’s putting up is lessening each second. Sighing, she decided to pull Princess Twilight with her as she walked. “I gotta talk to you about something. There’s a lot of time before the next class. I just wanna make sure I don’t miss this.” “O-okay?” Twilight could only agree with what Sunset is planning, whatever it is. 1235 hours… Sunset’s dorm room isn’t so big, but it at least has a few books at a shelf near a desk with a lamp on it and a lot of pencils. Then there were scrapbooks and journals. And just under the bed, Twilight could see that Sunset’s magical book for sending messages between her and that book back in Equestria was easily seen. At this, Twilight gave Sunset a brief advice to try putting that book at a better place. Eventually, Sunset sat down on the bed and Twilight sat beside her. “I have to apologize,” Sunset first said. “Just before I go on… How long since you and this world’s Twilight talked?” “Actually almost never.” Twilight answered this with a smile, even if Sunset doesn’t feel like it. Now Twilight just didn’t want to force it and kept her emotions neutral. “Wanna tell me what this is about?” “Well… It’s actually from this morning.” Sunset said this, looking at Twilight’s eyes straight. “I was just about to pass on some cupcakes I bought supposedly for snacks. I thought I’d do that for Pinkie Pie since the school stuff is getting a little more continuous for her recently.” FLASHBACK… 0928 hours... As Sunset herself was carrying a box of brown banana-cupcakes and go through the back of the school as a shortcut to her room, she had to stop since her phone was ringing. She looked somewhere else before holding the box with one hand and getting her smart phone with the other. It was Pinkie Pie texting a question of where the cupcakes are. She puts the phone away, knowing she’s about to arrive anyway. But when she turned to the door she was supposed to go into, the moment she spun to the direction she wanted, she walked and bumped into someone since it was so fast. For a split second, her fingers touched someone’s hand just before she was knocked to sitting down on the school walkway, even dropping the box of cupcakes without spilling its contents. Looking up, she saw a man wearing a black suit, just before her eyes flashed white. Sunset – For a brief moment, I was seeing memories of this man... And he was talking to Princess Celestia about something. Twilight – About what? Sunset – About plans regarding what to do if word of us using magic gets out to the world or to the city. Twilight – Wait... What? What’s wrong with that? Sunset – You don’t know how it’ll be a problem at first glance. As Sunset’s vision stopped, her eyes turned back to normal and she panted. She looked at the man with some fear and even crawled back. Then as Charlie noticed the girl’s look and appearance, he could tell who she is. “Hm.” He only quietly breathed to observe her. He decided a moment later he should speak up. “I was wondering how it actually works. Ever since visions come and go from psychics, I would think it’s something else but magic. Heh.” He shrugged before going on. “Of course yours is.” Sunset felt a little violated that he’d know what her power is. But she felt suspicious, even with the memories she now has. “How do I know you won’t use that to your advantage?” Charlie answers. “Well, I’m quite good in keeping things strictly as they are. I’m like someone in logistics who passes down information only that’s-” “That’s doubly sure if you’re from the government,” Sunset interrupted, glaring at him before she stood up. “You were here talking to Principal Celestia... There’s no doubt it’s about us, and how what comes as normal in Canterlot, isn’t really going out to the rest of the city, or the world.” For that, Charlie didn’t know how else he would react. Eventually, he gives up his false facade and chuckles. “Really impressive, Sunset Shimmer. No doubt you’re a great person of interest.” “You’re more of a stalker Agent Darwin. Nice to meet you too,” Sunset answered with a glare that stayed at him while she picked up her box of cupcakes, which she briefly found out was still in good shape. Charlie’s earpiece worn on his ear was transmitting Chadwick’s voice. “Charlie? What’s happening? I heard the name of a subject pop up! Are you talking to her?!” But Charlie didn’t want to answer yet seeing as Sunset was onto him. Then when he decided to answer, he takes a different stance. “You know what? Yeah. I talked to her because she felt like sharing. Never mind. She knows who I am anyway. So I shared... just without my permission.” Sunset observes Charlie and notices he has an earpiece. She then waits, knowing he’s busy talking to his companion. Snorting, Charlie becomes impatient. “You’re just gonna have to deal with it. We’re not crusaders for the Agency. We tell what we both know, well... even if she knew what was in my head from moments ago.” But Sunset chuckled. She pointed at her head. “Not just from moments ago.” As soon as she said that, Charlie seemed to feel uneasy. He knew he had to go with it. Sunset – I played him like a fiddle, but he knew taking me back with him at the SUV he parked near the school was wise. Chadwick, his partner, didn’t like it. As soon as everyone was in the SUV, Chadwick was clutching his hair with his hands. “ARE YOU CRAZY?!!!” “HEY!” Charlie demanded. “Calm the hell down, would ya? If this was gonna really happen, I’d really be a sitting duck, but I’m not.” He then glared at her who was at the back seats. “You just pulled sensitive information out of my head and into yours, young lady. Maybe it’s best you start to forget them.” Sunset made a smug face as she answered. “Maybe.” Her box of cupcakes was right beside her as she was making sure her hands were free. “It feels wrong trying to spy on us even of what we’ve done.” “My teams and I only knew about you when the Dazzlings have eventually disappeared after that Battle of the Bands gig your school put up months back. Celestia was trying to ask a big favor by keeping the information about the first six under wraps and protected. You see-” Sunset spoke first, knowing Charlie wasn’t finished. “She got you out of a legal problem when you were falsely accused of fraud. You were able to make it on your own with good advice from Celestia to fight for the truth. But being the agent you are, you can find your way around.” Charlie chuckled at that. “Okay, okay. I admit you know a little more than usual. You’re not surprised of me knowing. I get it.” “Good. Because I want to hear it from your mouth as to why you’re taking your time watching us too!!” Sunset demanded this loudly from him. End of Flashback... Sunset scratched her head as she looked down while telling the story. “And like that, he told me what I needed to know. Apparently... He’s the contact Principal Celestia and Luna has when it comes to cover-up stories. Celestia and Luna give out information about notable people in Canterlot City, provided he’d also spin out information regarding to events of what happened from the beginning of when Equestrian magic arrived... through me. That much given, he’s protecting our reputation as both students... a magic-wielders.” Twilight was wide-eyed that she didn’t know what to reply. She took several seconds to think about it and process it. Then she asked. “What was the catch? Spinning out information for a front sounds like a hard job.” “Exactly. Then I asked what his real purpose was.” Sunset answered this, continuing her story. FLASHBACK... 0939 hours... Charlie groaned, being asked that question from Sunset. “Look... You already saw my memories. Why make me answer?” Sunset looked away, then back at him. “I guess it’s a force of habit being a good judge of character, and I know how to tell a lie from truth.” “Look... the Agency also had resources to study strange phenomena that were very notable because of its frequency. And your type of phenomena is largely frequent, especially since the Camp Everfree incident. My division is assigned to contain the situation. If this gets out to the public, of course it will incite chaos and people will be looking for answers.” Charlie explains this, and sees Sunset realize something with her eyes coming wide-eyed. The teenager then saw his meaning. “So that’s why you’re worried about Mayor Warren...” “Yeah. Unprecedentedly, she was looking into all of those events. Maybe if you didn’t see from my memories... She took a lot of photos related to you, and this other friend you got named Twilight Sparkle.” “Oh...! Ah!! I remember that part.” Sunset put her fingers on her head to try and not getting a headache. “Now that I’m really scanning my head and hearing you say it, I think I could stop being too assertive. Look… I’m sorry. I just needed insurance. Ow… this hurts a little…” Charlie then looked at Chadwick, who seemed bitter. “What the hell now?” Chadwick looked away before replying. “This was always your call, Charlie. She knows what and who we are and she’ll be telling someone-” Sunset groaned to stop Chadwick from speaking. “And you’re being too shallow on what you think you know about me, Chadwick. I might not completely know you, but HE does. You think you’re so protective of your identity that you don’t even think I wouldn’t blow it. Clearly, you don’t like to trust me that you’d keep this all quiet rather than letting this go and-” “HEY, GIRLIE!” Chadwick replies harshly glaring at her. “I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GETTING AT, BUT I’M NOT TAKING THAT CHANCE WITH WHAT YOU KNOW!” And after he spoke at that tone, a strong hand grabs his suit collar before his face was drawn near to a clearly upset Charlie. “W-What are you-?” Charlie interrupts Chadwick. “You’re not doing anything because I won’t let you. Look, she’s going to cooperate, and clearly she understands the gravity of the situation she’s in.” “Tch. And you’re just too blind to see she’s playing you!” “You’re not seeing it, Chadwick! Blind as I may be, cooperative or not, she can’t escape what comes next. It’ll be worse if Warren puts an open claim on all seven of them!” Charlie then lets go and gently pushes Chadwick back to his seat before looking at Sunset who was surprised. He held a pause unsure of what he’s going to say, but he decided on it. “Sunset... I’m going back tomorrow to speak to Celestia, and you. And eventually, we’ll tell all your friends.” On Charlie’s plan though it follows Celestia’s, Sunset figured she’d rather want to settle this within the day. Putting her arms over the other just to think, she knows the obvious reason is to prepare her friends for the worst that could happen if not careful. “I’ll put in a good word for you.” Sunset said this, making him surprised himself. “Rather than waiting for another day, the others have got to know this... sooner than you think. I’ll talk to Principal Celestia and tell her to speed up the plan.” This was something Charlie could speed up, since awareness is the only thing he wants to share. He thought about it for a moment before getting back to Sunset. “Deal. 5 in the afternoon. I’m sure you’re all free.” “By the way… I know I could just tell someone about you and your partner are spies… But maybe I’m not so sure. With what I saw in your memories… It’s so dark. I should apologize for that. It’s not always my place to see another’s memories when I don’t want to.” Charlie briefly looked Chadwick, who shook his head not knowing what to say. Then Charlie looks back at Sunset for the reply. “Hang in there. You probably saw things you were never meant to see.” Sunset sighs, seeing he’s right. End of Flashback… Sunset sighs after finishing her last statement about what she proposed to Charlie. “I agreed on that and I’m gonna talk to Principal Celestia and Luna. If there’s one thing I don’t want, it’s unnecessary attention.” The princess herself had been listening attentively and felt as if Sunset really grew up from being selfish. A lot has changed. Now she’s imagining Sunset is handling the bigger issues that concern the identity of the seven in Earth. Twilight made her remark. “I think you’ll do just fine with what you’re gonna tell Principal Celestia.” With that said, Sunset smiled after a long while of being unsure of what she felt. “Thanks, for what it’s worth. Still… I don’t think I’d wanna forget what I saw from his head.” Twilight chuckles. “I only have little things at a time I wanna forget to relieve myself from the pressure. But as princess? No. I’d rather want to face problems head on no matter how stressful they are, and have help ready in case they’re quite heavy.” “Good thing you know better how to manage.” As Twilight was about to reply, she winced as she saw herself at the door, appearing to be wearing glasses and another set of casual clothes. This made her stand from her seat at the dorm bed, seeing as the Twilight of this Earth was once again surprised to see the Princess. Sunset stood up herself to see who from the two Twilights speak first. And it was Human Twilight who reacts first, raising her hand to wave and grin at the Princess. “Hi there… Princess.” Princess Twilight smirked at her human self. “When was the last time you felt that way? I think after the Friendship games. Anyway… I don’t mind.” Her smirk turned into a smile, a welcoming smile to make her human self comfortable. And the Human Twilight’s grin faded while she put her hand down. “Sorry. I just felt weird after seeing my double was a princess. I saw you a few times with Sunset and I know you two are tight, even after she stole your crown.” Princess Twilight nods. “She changed a lot since then and you’re a testimony to it. She turned you around too. Don’t forget.” After hearing the Princess give that advice, the Human Twilight seemed to be more comfy. Sunset figured the two needed privacy. “I’ll leave you two to catch up, see if I could get that talk going.” She said that before saying her farewells before leaving the dorm room with the two Twilights. She could only figure needed each other’s clarity. After all, Princess Twilight didn’t speak much about herself to her human counterpart. 1316 hours… Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna had been attentively listening to Sunset about the proposed accelerated plan as an act of extra awareness. Now that Sunset knew about what she and Charlie talked about, there wasn’t any need to hold back on what she knows. It could help her friends understand how things are and how everyone should be careful. It took a few minutes, but Celestia was making her reply after Sunset spoke. “At least you know him better and he seems to be sincere in helping out. I convinced him to be a close guardian in case things do turn out the way he predicts.” Luna however felt concerned. “Well, we DID put ourselves in that position to secure the identities of Sunset and the others, dear sister.” Sunset sighs, knowing something else. “After the Friendship games though? He feels as if he shouldn’t cover up for Crystal Prep Academy, and is thinking of letting that matter go.” Luna replies. “He should. I don’t think Crystal Prep would be a big worry. Cinch isn’t the type to completely blow on us with her reputation on the line. But she COULD be the type who could tell it to a politician as an under-handed tactic. I’ll talk to Dean Cadence to get her thought on that.” Celestia however found it unsettling that Luna thinks Cinch is capable to be under-handed. “And you would dare go to that line in thinking Principal Cinch is under-handed?” “I’m just trying to watch our backs,” Luna replies before looking at Sunset. “It seems with this matter, Celestia and I will make the arrangements for later. Tell your friends. This matter about your identities needs to be discussed.” Sunset nods. “Understood.” Setting awareness (Part 2)1636 hours… Canterlot High School students were either leaving school or just roaming around the school at the end of the day. Most of the students however were still baffled by one thing in their lives: Seeing two of Twilight. The two Twilights had a lot of looks from students and a lot of mutters. They’re somehow openly baffled by two of them existing there. A few of them even attempted to ask what it’s about, but Princess Twilight told them to be considerate, since most already know she’s a princess. Arriving at the front courtyard statue with not so many students there, Princess Twilight hugged her human counterpart. “It’s nice being here with our friends. It’s been a while since I spent some time with them.” Human Twilight adjusted her glasses while she smiled and gently pulled away from the hug. “Hey… You’re always welcome here, Princess. It’s just…” She hesitate for a little, even expecting her princess counterpart to reply. Cutting it short, she had to continue. “You know what I noticed especially when you were talking to Applejack and Rarity? You were really getting into their heart straight since… I’ve been very much into Friendship Magic after what happened at Camp Everfree and I’ve been getting better at how I handle mine. But I only serve as someone at the sidelines, and not material. And you are-” “Whoa whoa whoa…” Princess Twilight responds to interrupt. “Twilight, of course there’s a difference between both of us. I’m… a little more experienced with it ever since, knowing I’ve been leading my friends through rough situations back at Equestria. They even see me as a leader, and the princesses in the world declare the same. You might not be the same as I am, but you belong to a circle of friends. And you might not be the leader, but you are just as important. I don’t completely stress that I’m superior. I’m just one of the cogs that work in the clock gears if you get what I mean.” Listening to her princess counterpart, Twilight turns her head away. “A big cog,” she mutters. “Hm…” Princess Twilight raises an eyebrow while narrowing her eyes to try making a point. “Twi, you should know that, and it’s been a long while now. Friendship works that way, and it doesn’t stress a condition that someone is much stronger than the other. Sunset Shimmer leads the circle you’re in, deserving as the leader since she’s able to more than understand the meaning of Friendship. But it doesn’t make her more superior. Me being a princess doesn’t really change anything.” Finally understand what the princess was saying, Twilight nods. “Thanks a lot, Princess. I’ll make sure to keep the circle strong. I guess with seven of us, we’re stronger together.” “You’ll be tested. There’s no doubt about it,” Princess Twilight said. “You remember you told me something before about your dark self?” “Yeah. Midnight Sparkle.” “There’s always a sense of darkness inside each of you, and it’s only at the worst times that it comes out. I’m recommending you don’t use that side of you to solve problems. Otherwise, you’ll be hurting what you already built. You built that strong relationship because of interdependency. And I did the same. So if the worst comes… realize you’re not alone.” Princess Twilight then puts her hand on the other girl’s shoulder. “One thing I’m sure is… You’re close to Sunset because she helped you with the problems she had before, that I was able to somehow help her with just by acts of good deeds. You can do your part by doing the same thing. We might be different… But I feel that we’re connected.” As Human Twilight smiled, she noticed her other friends including Sunset were coming at their direction. The blonde-haired Applejack called out first while she waved. “Hey ya there! Y’all thought we wouldn’t see ya leave without one more goodbye?” The purple-haired Rarity spoke next. “Princess, thank you very much for coming! Somehow, the visit was quite worth it.” “Totally worth it!” happily shrieked the pink puffy-haired Pinkie Pie who satirically jumped to spook Rarity a little. “I could have gone and puffed out sparkles to liven the mood! Sorry if class took a little too long.” Sunset was closer to the two Twilights. “Princess Twilight, we wish you very well from here back to Equestria. Thanks for talking to your counterpart. Twilight’s confident ever since she’s gained her powers and control it.” Princess Twilight nods and smiles. “I’m glad all of you were to finally get your magic. Just use it wisely, even if it’s so much. I want you all to be safe. And though it might be less exciting around here-” She stops her speech the moment she realized she said it was less exciting. It wasn’t exciting, but in fact dangerous, but it doesn’t mean the seven in Earth can’t handle that danger. “Never mind,” Princess Twilight said. “I’m confident in what you girls can do.” She then looks at her human counterpart. “Especially you, Twilight.” After saying that, Human Twilight adjusted her glasses not sure of what she feels. After saying her goodbyes, she goes through the statue on the front courtyard, letting the fluid portal close as she crossed. Eventually, the group of seven is now heading to the gym together. At this time, Rarity had something in mind. “Hm… Sunset, you told us that the discussion would be about our identities, right? We’re seeing Principal Celestia and Luna for this?” “Yeah, they set this up,” Sunset replied. “Just that there’s a plus one.” “A- a plus one?” replied Fluttershy who’s less of a speaker for the day, having a semi-whispering voice. She had a little flower on her pink hair that for some reason she’s maintaining. She continued to speak up. “Who could their guest be?” Sunset sighs. “Not a guest. He’s… He has a good reason to be here… around us…” She softens her voice at each of the few words he says. “…such a good eye… such a stalker…” Fluttershy could even hear Sunset’s voice and was still clear even as the sound fades. This made her think Sunset was thinking of something deep. Meanwhile in the indoor gymnasium, Charlie was pacing back and forth near one side of the seat rows while Celestia and Luna were seated on the front-most near him. Luna was looking at Charlie pace back and forth until she finally had enough. “Charlie, you have got to calm yourself!” Charlie briefly groaned and looked at Luna. “What? You’re serious about this right now? The moment I allowed myself to be out here instead of being remotely here, I’ve already gotten my position compromised. I’m not usually out here in the open, especially when I’m too close to the subjects the Mayor’s actually observing! Heck, there’s no doubt she knows the Agency is in play because of this just because I’m here!!” “I understand your debacle, but is that what you’re concerned of more than just the reputation and safety of our students? You are an abiding citizen of this country and you’re expected to protect your fellow countrymen… and women!” Luna’s statement sounded a little weird after making that late addition, making Celestia look at her briefly. “You two could have handled this fine with Sunset-” “We talked about this” replied Celestia then, “and we agreed that you’re a guardian to all seven of them in the case that Mayor Warren would come too close in asserting her authority. I’ve seen what she could do with how she influences everyone in Canterlot City. At some times, she could make others submissive without them even touching her, not even giving those people a choice. This makes me suspicious of her behavior. That’s why I wanted you to be there to prevent her from doing anything worse than how she’d appear to do.” Charlie groans quietly and mutters to himself. “It’s a plan, but I don’t like it…” The group of seven girls was already outside the double doors of the indoor gym before it was opened. Twilight was up in front of the group that time when she went in front to see if there was anyone in the gym. She was a little confused of something just before she looked beside her, only to see that she’s alone. Her friends weren’t there. There wasn’t anyone in the gym, and it would seem she came alone in the gym. Twilight looks around and adjusted her glasses, being alert as she would always be. Then as she blinked the next time, she found herself not in the gymnasium but sitting on a wooden chair, while it stood on an invisible floor in a room where the stars of the universe exist and all colors relating to the aura of life were seen as something magical. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing and she even stood up to look at what she was missing. She even reached out to touch what seemed to be sprinkles of pink powder, and even felt the warmth of yellow rays that made her think of kindness. Suddenly putting her hands near her chest, Twilight felt a familiar presence, something cold, numbing, but gently soothing to herself. She felt arms wrap around her head from behind and hands holding her arms softly. She recognized to purple arm braces that she once wore at a time she had lost herself… a time when at the Friendship games, releasing a bad combination of magic led her to be consumed by what she let go, to turn her into a monster. All this time, the one behind Twilight holding her softly was… “Midnight Sparkle.” She muttered this name, and the figure behind her smiled. Midnight put her mouth near Twilight’s ear to whisper. “Nice to see you too, Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight holds Midnight’s hands with her own but never dared to look behind her, eventually feeling annoyed. “I always felt you didn’t go away… Even when I’m completely free from your control thanks to the geodes we found.” “And you and your friends completely annihilated me just for the sake of your friendship. I think it’s cheap, Twilight. Because it’s missing a lot. Me.” Midnight’s words forced Twilight to suddenly keep Midnight’s hands apart to let her go. But as Twilight stepped forward to move away, Midnight appeared right in front of her glaring. “ADMIT IT, Twilight. Deep down, you need me. I no longer control you, but you can control what essence I have left in you. You’re incomplete without me.” “There’s always been a catch, Midnight!!” Twilight hissed by speaking loudly in her reply. “I’m not falling for it again. Cinch led me to believe I could use the magic I stole back at CHS, only for me to turn into a monster!!! I’m not doing that again!” “Tch. Typical Twilight, proud of just changing herself and not looking at the fact that the littlest things that you didn’t completely remove from me was your curiosity. I was always high in it and I was always a part of you. Magic is something more complex than how you know it, and you’ve seen Equestria through your eyes because of it. You never even went to Equestria in the first place, but you finally got what you needed.” “I, no… YOU DAMAGED THE WORLD WHILE YOU LED ME IN MY FORM!!! It’s…” Twilight refused to say more while she felt her eyes were wet in her tears. Midnight even felt Twilight’s emotions partially while a single tear left through her left eye. But she glared right at Twilight before she suddenly flies insane fast to leave a purple trail behind her and gripped her hand on Twilight’s shirt collar before lifting both of them up with her wings, making them hover as she held Twilight. “Your power is changing thanks to the geodes you found and kept one for yourself. Indeed, the magic flowing from the geode influences you what you can do with it. But did you know your own body is becoming one with the geode?” “What-? You mean… it’s infusing itself? I checked it and it looked unchanged to me.” “Well… while we’re here, it’s being inserted into your body. You used a necklace to keep it hanging below your neck. You don’t know that the geode is being sucked into your body. This is why I was able to speak to you for much longer.” Midnight chuckled, nearing her face to Twilight’s. “You’re changing, Twilight. But it doesn’t mean it will be just you. In the later future, your friends will start following suit.” “No…! I’m not listening to you! I WILL NEVER LISTEN TO YOU!! YOU ARE GOING TO TEAR US APART!!!” “You’re very wrong, Twilight. I’m ensuring our survival through what I tell you now! Even if you leave now, you’d know that you no longer have your geode. It’s now inside you.” Midnight said these words and Twilight is starting to struggle. “Don’t fight your own power, as it’s crazy enough. Believe in both sides of it, darkness and light. It’s how we’ll both survive.” “NO!!” Twilight screamed at Midnight, showing rage in her heart and letting a small purple light glow from her chest. “I never want you to be with me… NEVER AGAIN! I’d rather tear you open than be with you! I don’t want you to break our friendship!!” Midnight snorted in annoyance with what Twilight demanded. “If I wished the same thing, it cuts both ways. Be careful what you wish for, Nerdy.” She then unhands Twilight, before seeing her scream and fall to the endless space of stars below. “I’ll see you around, Twilight. We’ll be friends for a long time.” “MIDNIGHT!!!” Twilight screams in fear calling her dark counterpart, trying to reach with her hands only to feel herself falling. Then Twilight heard voices, coming from Sunset, and eventually Rainbow Dash, and then from Fluttershy. Soon, Rarity’s, Applejack’s and Pinkie Pie’s voice followed, before Twilight’s reality returned. Sunset was shocked as Twilight herself was on her knees panting hard feeling the gymnasium’s polished floor with her hands. She called Twilight for many times, but Twilight only heard a blur on the sounds just before it’s slowly becoming clear. “Twilight… Twilight!! Are you okay?! What happened to you-?” Sunset gasped at what she saw next. Twilight was holding what could have been the necklace Twilight owns, with the crystal geode on it, but it was no longer there. The necklace was cut from the places where the geode is supposedly wrapped from. “Where’s yours?!” Sunset got on her knees to snap Twilight out of it. She made Twilight lean back until her back was straight and her head was leveled with her own before gently slapping Twilight’s face with her hand. “Look at me!” Twilight was well awake when she was gently slapped and suddenly glared at Sunset. “Leave me alone,” she muttered loudly. She put a light purple aura around Sunset before pushing her friend to her back. The other girls gasped at this just as she lets go of Sunset and gets on her feet before running for the door and quickly getting out of sight. But Sunset couldn’t have it and got on her feet before coming after her friend. “TWILIGHT!!! WAIT!” Sunset left through the gym’s double doors. Even Celestia, Luna, and Charlie were shocked of this. Charlie however was more collected on this. Rarity felt sympathetic and attempted to go after the other two, but Applejack stopped her. “Applejack-?” “Let her go,” Applejack said. “What happened to Sunset? I think it wasn’t an accident.” “How so?” “I saw Twilight’s eyes, Rarity. Dunno about y’all, but they were normal as it should have been. Twilight’s been feelin’ real, and she’s serious about what she’s doing with her magic. That? It isn’t a common shove. Y’all see what happened when she used it? There’s little shape of a horn on her head and it disappeared when she stopped holdin’ Sunset.” “Darn,” Rainbow Dash said while she scratched her head. “Looks like we gotta be careful. I know who makes that kind of tone.” Applejack listened attentively and got what Rainbow meant. “Thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?” “Yeah.” And both Applejack and Rainbow Dash said it at the same time: “Midnight Sparkle.” Charlie was able to read lips as a part of her Agency training even if the sounds weren’t necessary and he heard that name again. Shaking his head, he decides to take a seat beside Luna, while Celestia was comforting the other five girls who were left behind in the gym. “Who’s Midnight Sparkle?” he asked Luna. Luna narrowed her eyes looking at Charlie. “From Twilight’s perspective, it’s a result of a combination of magic that led her to act like a tyrant during the Friendship games. If I’m right, the power she had amplified Twilight’s dark desires to know more about the other world. You should be careful what you ask for, Agent.” Charlie shrugged. “No need to be concerned, Vice Principal. I dared anyway.” Just outside the gym, Sunset and Twilight were talking. “I’m telling you, that it will change me,” Twilight said before throwing the incomplete necklace on the floor for Sunset to see. “There. Proof that my geode is no longer with me. And…” Twilight lets her shirt collar down so that one side of her neck can be seen just before some magic acted and let some sort of mark appear on her neck. It was a group of stars as the biggest one that is light purple-pinkish in color was unique from the rest, small and white. With magic again, she lets it subside and disappear. Sunset’s shock was calming down, but even she wants to believe it. “I… I don’t know what to say.” “You don’t need to say anything, Sunset. Now may not be the time to talk about this. I CAN tell you however…” As Twilight paused in her speech, magic worked through her that a shape of a horn seen through her magical aura appeared before she herself used her magic, and Sunset was being surrounded by the same aura before being lifted up a few feet off the floor. “I could use magic with no difficulty.” “You’re amazing… Not even lifting a finger on this too… And you said it’s just… easy?” “I didn’t say it was easy,” replied Twilight who was eventually lowering her friend to the floor and letting go of her magic with it, letting her horn fade out. “I said I could do it with no difficulty, seeing as it had a cost in what I am.” “What you are-? Wait a minute.” Sunset approached Twilight hoping to see her memories for herself. Twilight welcomes Sunset’s plan and reaches her hand. “See for yourself.” Sunset knew with Twilight’s invitation that something really happened with her friend. Holding Twilight’s hand, Sunset had a vision. To her, it took a minute. In reality, it was only a few seconds. And with the vision finished, Sunset stepped back and shook her head before feeling fear creep in. “W-What…? Impossible…!” Twilight was looking down. “I wasn’t sure of how to tell you about Midnight Sparkle, Sunset.” Then she looked back up. “But one thing can’t be changed. I was once the monster you saw… curious, and proud of what I find. I even attempted to find access to Equestria.” “But that was Midnight Sparkle!! That isn’t you!!!” “Tch. Sunset, maybe you don’t know about it before, but instead of feeling that I’m proud of you having powers, I should be envious I was never in your place as a leader.” Twilight said this making Sunset glare at her. Twilight answered to shoot back at Sunset’s gesture. “What’s wrong, Sunset? Can’t face the truth I envy you now?” “Where the heck is this coming from?!!” “It’s coming from me!” Twilight glared as she replied before turning her back on her friend, looking over her shoulder. “Maybe you’ll understand what I feel when your own geodes decide to fuse with you. Your own darkness would show up first.” “No… That can’t happen!” “It’s already happened to me! And soon… to you too.” Twilight said her last words before walking away. “See me later after what you talked about. I’m tired.” Sunset sighed and frowned as she saw Twilight walk away… Then she heard the sound of thunder from afar, even as she was inside the school. The clouds were dark in the sky, and the atmosphere around Sunset’s circle was one with a bad mood… Setting awareness (Part 3)1656 hours… Sunset – I had a feeling after Twilight walked out on me that things would be quite different between me and her. She actually feels envious of what I am? A leader? Someone who knows friendship deeper than the rest of us? I suppose that’s I could describe myself since I acknowledge it. But to cause it to have someone envy at what I am? Twilight and I have been quite tight ever since I helped her overcome Midnight Sparkle at Camp Everfree. I even made sure our memories were protected from Wallflower Blush from her plans in removing our memories of each other… Then again, I already had an idea why. Twilight was talking to her princess counterpart. And one motivation for my Twilight to envy what I am, maybe would be related to being… NOT a princess. Or did that feeling start back when she joined the gang? I wasn’t sure. That time, Sunset was seated beside her friends, just without Twilight Sparkle around this time. The gymnasium was empty, but only herself and the other five friends are there, together with Principal Celestia, Vice Principal Luna, and Agent Charlie Darwin. Charlie was in front of the girls. But before he could speak up, he could see AppleJack stare at him. That got his attention. “I wouldn’t want to make a rough guess, but I think you’re told about being spied on.” AppleJack was told earlier by Sunset Shimmer about AppleJack being part of those observed by the Agency. And this pissed her off. “Ever had a very big eye look at ya, and you still can’t notice you’re being watched? And all of the sudden, the eye actually appears in front of ya. You know what I feel when I find out it’s the same exact eye that stalked me? I’d feel like ripping it apart in half. Maybe you already know that I could rip bones like they’re paper.” She glared at him after saying it. Charlie only looked at AppleJack, not daring to answer her. Then he looked at the other girls, surprised of what she said. He sighed, before speaking up. “Noted. So… Anyone else wanna express their hard comment on-” “My piece of my mind,” Rarity started speaking while glaring at him, then said further “…CAN BE COMPRESSED TO TWO WORDS!!! TWO…! WORDS!!!” Fluttershy knew what would happen and even stopped Rarity from standing up and covered her friend’s mouth. Rarity was only mumbling while the mouth was covered, but Fluttershy spoke up for her in a calm and kind way. “Agent Darwin? S-She’s… She found it very inappropriate for you having spied on her. I actually feel the same. But I don’t feel upset. I just feel somehow embarrassed.” Rarity stopped mumbling and her mouth was no longer covered by Fluttershy’s hands. Then she took this opportunity to shout “SCREW YOU!!!! SCREW…! YOU!!” Afterwards, her cheek was slapped. And that hand surprisingly came from Fluttershy, who saw Rarity calm down and hold her own cheek to feel the sting of the slap. “I’m sorry, Rarity. But you need to get yourself together.” Rarity took it to her heart and quietly sobbed, putting her head on Fluttershy’s shoulder and continued there… Rainbow Dash on the other hand was quite patient. After having been told that she was watched by the Agency, she’d been pretty decent with her comment. “I wanna say it’s fine as long as it’s protection. Kinda feels like I’m stalked, but hey. At least I get to be awesome!” Charlie chuckled at that. “Careful. Maybe you could have been assisted by anyone who wants to make you an athlete.” “Oh come on! I’d know who’s a faker for a friend at any day! But to make it look like you’re making me awesome? You got my thanks!” And Dash grinned at it. Pinkie Pie raised a finger to get Charlie’s attention, but quickly put it down before speaking up with a high-pitched natural voice. “You know the story about the clown watching from the dark? What if he suddenly shows up while he was beside me? I’ll check if he’s smiling and I should smile back too!” And Charlie scratched his head. He didn’t completely get her terminology but there’s some logic to what she said. “It sounds like you wanna forgive anyone looking at ya.” “I’m just silly old me. Really! I’m all about the fun, and making friends should be fun! And that clown was sorry back then! I know you were apologizing too!” After Pinkie Pie said it, she added, “You’re welcome!” This just made him groan quietly in reply. Charlie raised an eyebrow before he approached sunset and handed over the folder he once showed Princess Celestia. Once Sunset has it on hand, she opens it, and the photos are seen. She herself wasn’t happy there were photos of herself in them and Twilight as well. And when it was passed to the others, they exchanged quiet gasps. They even saw pictures of magic rays and that notable tree bark dome back at Camp Everfree. Applejack was the first to react to the photos. “What in tarnations-? Did you all take these photos?” “Nope,” Charlie replied. “Thing is, the Agency wasn’t gathering photos, but all of them are sharply high-quality. Our purpose was to gather information about who took those photos and how we protect your identities. The one who took those pictures have access to good equipment, and have good angling techniques. What’s more is, some of the shots are directly overhead, so he must have used a drone on some of them too.” Rarity was patient to let Charlie finish before she spoke up. “Who took these photos in the first place?” Sunset was the one to answer that question. “I promised to keep this a secret… until now. You all won’t like it. The photos came straight from a Private Investigator who was operating in Canterlot City, and was recently even reporting outside the city just to follow us. Agent Darwin’s fact-finding got him to believe at first that the P.I. was certified to be working under Mayor Warren’s flag.” The other girls gasped in surprise, not wanted to believe it immediately, but slowly processed it. “Uh-oh.” AppleJack muttered to her. “The mayor?” “W-What-? Mayor Lisa Warren?” Rarity spoke, not believing the answer. “B-b-but she even liked Canterlot High School’s official sports showcase!” Then of course, that’s how we all imagined Rarity who was a fashion organizer for three days with Mayor Warren once a technicality judge. Rarity was given a least-than-fair amount of spotlight. It at least made her smile. That’s what’s important. She’s happy in what she does. Then Rarity continued. “I don’t want to her to turn into a criminal!!!” Charlie shrugged before replying. “Well, we never found anything on her that implicates a crime, so she’s clean. Very clean. It’s even proven she was a delegate on religious studies that she even represented her whole hometown years ago. At least that’s how smart she was.” Rainbow Dash was pissed when she herself spoke up. “That is so not cool… NOT cool! She’s managing a city and she suddenly comes up and takes pictures of Sunset and Twilight? Major stalker with every laser show that happens around here! I bet that’s how she liked to see more!” Rarity nods. “I agree.” “Ooh, ooh!!” Pinkie Pie raised her hand and stood up. “Maybe she’s just doing that to protect Canterlot City against us.” Then she noticed others glared at her. She realized that it only makes her comment a pessimistic one for them. She chuckled uneasily. “Oh.” Sunset repies on Pinkie’s statement. “You know that could spell for disaster if she knows more if we’re not careful. That means… that could cost us our powers. And we still don’t know if there’s anything else we missed on Equestrian magic.” Charlie groans. “Time’s not always a friend. This is the problem these days. Politics just gets things moving and the world just agrees because every policy in a specific location follows. Citizens have to be obliged to take on the responsibilities embedded on those policies. But if those policies go against your moral ethics, it could spell out small problems that could build to a bigger one. That’s how society works.” Applejack seemed interested and smiled at Charlie’s info. “I’m impressed. You know much more how the world works. You should be a teacher on these things. Social Studies maybe?” “Me? Teacher? Nah. Just about that information… Take it from someone who travelled to different places seeing those things. But not all types of politics are good. They usually slow down processes too. I don’t care if it’s all about legitimacy and- Hmph. That’s why I try to stay away from every bureaucrat I find and only communicate when it comes to safety and instruction.” After Charlie said it, Applejack nodded seeing she understood. Sunset sighs and stands up to get in front of her friends and get their attention. “Fact of the matter is, we’re dealing with a politician here who’s already onto us. And it’ll only be a matter of time until she makes her move… either publicly or using something else to discredit us, or the school. Remember that the thing from the Friendship games could also endanger us since Principal Cinch knows and she could tell about all the events that happened in secret.” “So what?!” Rainbow Dash responded harshly. “Seriously, we’ve been all about doing the good stuff together! And we even saved the school four times already!” “Five if you count that thing when it came to Wallflower Blush. That last one ended quite well.” Sunset said it additionally from Rainbow Dash before she spoke more. “But now we got someone who could fear magic. Remember… Not everyone knows what Equestrian Magic is, or what it does, or how it’ll serve just as anyone, because it normally doesn’t get used here. With that, I’m gonna urge everyone to be careful at this point. We don’t know what any of them would think of us if they knew Equestrian Magic exists. Only our school and its students have a good idea. I hope that’s an understanding we all have after this.” 1720 hours… Meeting’s finally adjourned after that, and I split from my friends to talk a little more to Charlie, Principal Celestia, and Vice Principal Luna on the steps we need to take. It took a few minutes, but we were able to get some things straight. I was left with Charlie while walking him out of the school… “So…” Sunset started. “What happens tomorrow?” Charlie wasn’t looking directly at Sunset since he’s professionally inclined not to when he replied. “Whatever happens the next day is up to you, but you should follow your own advice and stay cautious. Celestia reached out to me and we’re giving each other what we need. Like I said before… We shouldn’t cause panic. And good work with how you got your friends convinced about part of the Agency’s aim.” “You had a solid idea about what your division was after. I think with that, there’s nothing more to trust you with.” Sunset said it with a smirk. And Charlie snorted. “Hmph. Now that’s a bummer. Sure you don’t wanna be friends?” He looked at her with a glare, but he chuckled and smiled. “Look… I was joking. That’s a good one though.” Sunset chuckled back appreciating the counter-joke. “Pretty good yourself, I guess. Anyway… I should pretty much talk to Twilight. Noticed we aren’t all there?” “Yeah… You should get her together.” Charlie advised it and Sunset said her goodbye before going a separate way. Charlie sighs and continues on before leaving the school peacefully. Finding his way back to the SUV, Chadwick got on at the front passenger seat with a fastfood box and put it at the back. “Mission accomplished?” “Maybe. But we should keep being aware for the next day or so.” Charlie started the SUV’s engines before driving out. “We had that idea with the mayor’s missing P.I. already leaving Canterlot, but it doesn’t make sense. He suddenly went off the grid, leaving all his things. Got an update so far?” “Afraid not, Charlie. Looks like it’ll be for another day.” Sighing, Chadwick falls asleep on the passenger chair, feeling the little vibrations of the SUV driving out of the area… Meanwhile, Sunset was knocking at Twilight’s door in the dorm areas of the school. She didn’t hear Twilight respond, so Sunset said she would come in, before she did. And in her dismay, what she predicted about Twilight was right, seeing her friend lying on the bed with her knees tucked to her chest on the bed. And Twilight sensed Sunset was nearby, so she sat on her bed and slightly lowered her shirt collar to show something to Sunset, besides the skin. There was a small bulge shaped like a tiny crystal, that was slowly and surely shrinking. Sunset, of course was concerned of this. “W-what is happening to you?” Twilight looked at Sunset with neutral emotion before looking at her hand. “I feel very little stings everywhere, and when I use magic? It starts to hurt at first, but the pain will slowly die down. My theory is that the geode inside me is beginning to turn into shards. And with what I’m feeling all over my body, my guess is that they’re spreading across. “What about you, Sunset?” Twilight looked at Sunset with her eyes narrowed at her. “Don’t you wanna find out what’ll happen to your powers?” Sunset then looked at her own crystal geode and thought about it, before looking back at Twilight. “I’m not sure it matters, Twilight. Look… I’m sorry if I had to come here at a bad time-” “It’s not a bad time, because I need to talk to you about something. Now… SIT… DOWN.” Twilight used her magic as she said those two words firmly, forcing Sunset to sit on the bed with her magic before it subsided. Then she sat beside Sunset and neared their faces. “Look… I’m sorry for what I said back there, but it’s what I feel. I actually envied you because you took yourself up as a leader.” “I know.” Sunset sighs afterwards. “Having you talk directly to Princess Twilight was a mistake.” Twilight glares at Sunset. “Says who? The leader who’s concerned she might get replaced?” “W-What the-? Twilight!!! I’m not even feeling I wanted to stay just to be replaced! I’m the same as the rest of you!! Princess Twilight feels that I was able to connect all of you to do better than the days you had before. We proved it with our friendship! And I saw it too! You’re just thinking of this because you aren’t a princess. But you don’t need to prove yourself to be one!” Sunset explains her point clearly, and it gets across. But Twilight had another thinking even if she listened. “I think there’s more to me than just being a friend to all six of you. I never took charge of my life and I only steered myself to what I wanted because it was what I was good at!” “So don’t stay that way…! You know you steered yourself in the right direction because you need people close to you who you can trust! You need to trust me now… just as I have in you.” Sunset mentioned this to remind Twilight of what happened between them and Wallflower Blush. This, Twilight understood and she frowned, looking away from Sunset. “I don’t feel like I’m brand new. I’ve changed… but… It isn’t for the better, is it?” “Honestly Twilight? I’m not sure. But you don’t need to walk that road alone. You have me and the gang to help you out.” “I want to believe that. You six are closer to each other than I am, but now it’s too late.” Twilight didn’t say a word and stood up, before she started to pack a bag for herself. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing from her. Does she actually think that she’s going to stand out that we won’t accept her anymore? I watched her pack her large bag, but I kept convincing her to not go. It was until she left the front courtyard that I followed her by myself that the other five caught the news Twilight was leaving. I for one wasn’t ready to give up then… Sunset holds Twilight’s hand at the front courtyard of the school to stop her friend from walking away. The other five were experiencing this, witnessing the moment they wished they wouldn’t remember… “Please… Twilight, don’t leave us!” “Leave me alone, Sunset.” Twilight glared at Sunset, feeling her hand was gripped tight. “I’m only going to hurt you, and the rest of you. I’m doing you a favor already.” “NO YOU’RE NOT! You’re hurting yourself because of Midnight Sparkle!” “MIDNIGHT SPARKLE AWAKENED ME TO SOMETHING I NEVER KNEW BEFORE!!!” Twilight said this, swatting Sunset’s hand away but also, unintentionally, slapping Sunset’s cheek in the process. Twilight seemed surprised she did it and looked at her hand, but glared anyway. “I’m sorry, Sunset. Princess Twilight helped me in realizing I play a good part. But is that part enough? No. That’s why back then when she told me that, it didn’t make sense.” Sunset felt her cheek while she started to cry. “Just… Go.” She said these words simply because she felt she didn’t need Twilight anymore. But as Twilight tried to apologize, Sunset felt rage. “GET OUT OF HERE!!! NOW!!!! Aaaggh…!” She felt her chest warm up, and her own crystal geode glowing. She got on her knees as she felt the pain, and groaned. Applejack arrived first to check what’s happening to Sunset before the rest of her friends came to comfort one of their own. As what happened to Twilight before, Sunset’s geode was forcing itself to infuse inside her body. Twilight turned her back on Sunset. “I don’t expect you to understand, but at least the pain… will be a part of you. Goodbye, Sunset.” She then walked without turning back, taking another direction of the sidewalk with a path that goes away from the school and the city… I was only feeling pain… pain that Twilight left, and the pain that my own crystal geode, the source of my power, was being infused in me. I thought it would be simple, but I don’t know what to think of next. For me, it’s just another day… I just hope she’d come back to us… I failed her that day… I failed Twilight Sparkle. The Apple Sweetest in FriendshipSunset – Though it’s been a week, I couldn’t really stop thinking about Twilight ever since she left… I couldn’t believe it too… She actually left us without saying a goodbye. She actually felt really… really intent on leaving. There wasn’t a spell, and there wasn’t anything that influenced her. I wrote to Princess Twilight and I told her about what happened to me. It seemed unbearable of my crystal geode getting through my chest. Minutes later, it started getting smaller, and like what Twilight experienced I actually felt little stings in my body, probably because of it splitting into shards. It felt easier as more time passed. Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna did what they could, sending police task forces to look for Twilight, but none came back with news. That got my friends and I worried. To take my mind off, I needed to know what changed when I had my geode shards inside me, and it seems there was a lot. I practiced and I noticed a few things. I got more physically amplified, and then there’s magic control like how Twilight does it through levitation, and eventually? I was even teleporting too. Then there’s the control of thoughts that come into my head from others. They aren’t that much annoying anymore, and it seems Rainbow Dash’s over-usage of her abilities weren’t a key factor anymore, like my powers are separated from the rest. Was that a bad thing? The last things I wrote to Princess Twilight was that although our Twilight is gone, we’re hanging on. Our hopes are high we’d see her again, and we know very much that our Twilight is sincere, even… if it’s now shrouded in darkness. It’s like I felt Midnight Sparkle… only it’s just shaped into Twilight’s soul… And I’m really afraid of it. 1 week later… February 28, 2018... a Wednesday... 1157 hours... Sunset had finished writing entries into her mystical book she uses to communicate with Princess Twilight and was right at the front courtyard just at the small stair case that leads to the multiple door entrances of the school. After closing her book and keeping it in her knapsack, a familiar male agent was approaching. She nodded at his presence before speaking up. “Agent Darwin?” Charlie nods back. “Sunset.” “What ya doing here?” Sunset asked casually, though she already had some answer in her mind, causing her to look away. “Just some serious business as usual, Sunset. And, if you’re asking about Twilight’s whereabouts… Well… She’s gone completely off the grid. Even I couldn’t understand it, but all things crazy have answers.” “All things crazy-” Sunset uneasily chuckled after repeating what he said. “Yeah. I caught on with that. I think it’s just getting out of control. “Hey, uh… You wouldn’t happen to have something to know about Flash Sentry’s sudden disappearance, do you?” Sunset asked, feeling this was another concern. “Maybe you should try taking it slow taking things in, Sunset.” Charlie then gently brushed past her before moving into the school through the entrances. He noticed she followed him in, before he replied further. “Because really? I think you’re gonna be stressed. You didn’t see me much in a week, so it means I’m busy. And when I’m busy…” He glared right at her. “…I mean it.” Sunset snorted, letting him hear and she stopped to just see him walk off into the distance to the direction of Principal Celestia’s office. She was already at one of the hallways of the school when she saw the familiar brown southern hat Applejack wore, while its owner actually greeted her with a wave. “Hey Applejack.” “Howdy!” Applejack replied. “I see Charlie’s around.” “Yeah… Same old same old. He and Celestia are gonna talk about things. Best we wait for what we know.” Sunset said this, while analyzing Applejack’s mind. She could do it flexibly with her powers. And Applejack pretended not to care when her mind is completely opposite. “Jeez, maybe she could just use her powers to read his mind and own him.” Sunset growled a little and glared at Applejack. “You know the type who wants to just stalk you by telling you what that stalker knows you think of several seconds back?” Applejack gritted her teeth nervously. “Darn it, Sunset!” “Look, I’m not against your advice, but that enough is one thing I don’t need. I read his mind once and I know I gotta give him respect.” She stopped talking as a few students were around, and decided to deliver the rest of her message through telepathy. “Besides… He’s got good options laid down while he’s got his hands full. Us? We’re still learning. Ordinary day. Less suspicions. Better, right?” The two walked together until Sunset stopped to open her locker. Applejack made a reply through her thoughts hoping Sunset would hear. “I’m not saying you should open him up. Just tellin’ ya that we could handle whatever comes our way… the mayor… whatever holds Twilight hostage… or even their darn Agency.” Sunset slams her locker door close and glared at Applejack, nearing her face to the other while she whispered. “You like to make it personal with him spying on us in the first place. I get it. But I’m tellin’ ya to move on… and back off.” Applejack didn’t feel she wanted to impose too much with her reply while seeing Sunset step away, relieving her face away from Applejack’s as well. “I ain’t forcing anything, Sunset. Ya know what? You changed.” At that, Sunset chuckled. “Let’s just say I got a bigger perspective now. If you were Fluttershy, she’d be scared. I don’t want that. Good thing you’re one to understand it simply.” “Whoo-wee… I got a feeling you’re gonna bust anyone’s day.” Applejack muttered this to herself. Then Sunset heard voices from afar. One of them was Charlie’s and the other was Celestia’s. It sounded like they were arguing. She knew she was tracking what she hears with her powers. Applejack asked why Sunset suddenly looked towards a direction and was replied to with Sunset getting busy and eventually said her goodbye and walked off towards Celestia’s office… Several moments ago… Celestia covered her mouth seated on her desk as she looked down at horrid photos. Luna saw them and couldn’t bear it before she went immediately to the office’s bathroom. Charlie could hear Luna throw up in disgust with what the photos were described. Eventually, he made his comment. “Can’t say things are simple as we first thought. Ed Ricks was split up across states and it just keeps getting better and better. Nothing else explains that he was ripped apart before his parts were sent all around the country.” “This is horrible,” Celestia muttered before speaking up. “This is the fate of a P.I. that’s suspected to work for Mayor Warren? Something’s not right about this.” Charlie replies as calm as possible for Celestia. “Something was definitely not right. They were discovered right at the homes of his past clients, like the killer knew exactly how he operated and who he visited, when it’s so unlikely on his personality that he’d never let it happen. There’s no way in other scenarios that within one week, all the body parts would be sent this way, and it was so efficient if the delivery system was caught.” “Please get me straight to the point…” Celestia requested this just before Luna had finally arrived at her side, seeing her sister wiping a handkerchief on her mouth. “Luna, are you okay?” “I’m fine now…” Luna replied. Charlie then responded to Celestia’s request. “No physical evidence of delivery, and it’s like they all appeared on the scene. No break-ins. No damages to property. They were silently placed inside those homes. No prints either, and even traces of anyone moving those parts. It didn’t make any sense in the physical side of things.” “On the physical side?” Luna asked this for clarity, which Charlie answered. “We don’t just look at things at the most physical sense, Vice Principal. We already had an idea that there was magic used in this. The kind? We don’t know. We already took Equestrian Magic as one of the types that now exist in the world. But based on how we’ve known Equestrian magic since last year? This doesn’t apply.” Charlie groans. “Damn it… If we’re gonna find the culprits on this, then I might need to ask a huge favor to help with this investigation.” Celestia winced at that, before looking at Luna who looked back at her. Then they both had shock in their faces, both glaring at Charlie. “No… No, absolutely not!!!!” Celestia stood up from her seat, slammer her hands on the desk, and continued. “I will not allow you to take any of my students! They’re my responsibility!!!” Charlie chuckled before he abruptly stopped and glared back before raising his tone at her. “Well that responsibility was null and void the moment Sunset Shimmer started being reckless and turned into that she-demon she described herself before!!! Or maybe you’re forgetting-” “I will not let you take any of her friends or any of my students to endanger their lives!” “Well who the heck else knows how to counter magic of one kind? The magic of another!! And guess what? This world’s normal circle of magic-wielders can’t fight something like this.” Charlie put his arms crossed over his chest. “My division’s aim is to protect those who can willingly use their magic and give considerable damage to this country’s property and its citizens. You have to understand that we have to go through all lengths to do that!!! I might not force it, but someone else will.” Then he saw Celestia’s fear creeping in. “And if I’m not around to help you keep the seven’s identities a secret to the world, you and me both know it’ll be chaotic. Heck, there will be no doubt everyone’s gonna ask about the origins of their magic! You’ve got to see some sense!!” Luna spoke up this time. “You know her answer, Agent.” Charlie gently shook his head on the disappointment he’s feeling. “Alright. I’ll follow with the answer, but there’s another thing that’s got to go if it remains. I’ll have to be readily focused on this investigation, meaning I have to find other ways to deal with a threat like this. And I can’t spare resources to protect you and your students either. I’m on a budget and the Agency would stretch itself thin. I’m not allowing that. If you’re sure with your answer, I’ll have to remove the protections the Agency placed on CHS for good. Meaning… I’m not going to associate with you anymore and pull no stops with what I do best.” As Celestia heard of what he said, she knew that she had to reconsider. She looked at Luna if there’s anything different from what she thinks. Even Luna seemed unfazed with Charlie’s scenario. Celestia had to ask for something first just for clarity. “What about the likely plans the Mayor has for us?” “I can’t protect you from them either,” Charlie answered firmly. “I’m sorry. I got my resolve. I need yours.” “I understand. Still, I must-” But the doorknob, originally locked, was being unlocked and the door opens. Sunset comes in with a determined look and closes the door behind her. “Hi there.” “B-but how-?!” Charlie was shocked just as he brought out his handy remote control to check readings on its screen. He looked around at the corners of the room where he placed fluid sound disruptors. He looked at the readings on his remote, and eventually found no problems on each of them. “The dampening field is fine, but-! Sunset!!” “Long story short, Charlie! I can read every mind inside this room and I didn’t need your sound proofing to keep things private!! And as for that door?” Sunset showed her horn shaped from her aura on her forehead before it faded. “Magic.” Charlie groans. “Ugh… I can’t believe this…! Sunset, this isn’t the time!” Sunset glared at him before sending her reply through telepathy. “There’s always time for reason, Charlie.” She saw him a bit nervous, even prompting him to be defensive. “It’s alright, Charlie. It’s me. A week has passed, but I knew my powers were getting stronger. I had to get some way to control it. Good thing I still do now.” Celestia and Luna were just staring at Sunset for what’s happening and they couldn’t properly react. Sunset continued by speaking up. “I know that pretty much, Equestrian magic is what I know. But if there’s one as dangerous as what we wield, maybe there’s no question we need to intervene.” Charlie saw Sunset’s point, but he looked at Celestia, then back at Sunset to try making a point. “Your Principal’s more concerned of you and your friends not getting hurt than finding out what’s happened to our dead P.I. here. There’s got to be some answer at why and how this happened.” “Sunset,” Celestia called. “You know I can’t just let you go… not after what happened to Twilight. Please…” “She was intent on leaving!!” Sunset barks at Celestia. “In case you haven’t been understanding how I said it to you and Vice Principal Luna, she wished she would spare us from her endangering us, since…” She hesitates to lie further and sighs before continuing with another subject matter. “She’s sincere enough to give me a bad eye, knowing that I’m mostly leading our friendship to better lengths that she’d envy what I am. I’m just doing what I do best for our circle. I’m not restricting anyone to a certain role. We’re all being casual to ourselves and to others. And… we make our sure our friendship is tight. We have disagreements, but I never had something with Twilight that big before. That meant she had to leave. “Principal Celestia. I know every one of us means so much to you, but I’d wish that you let us grow to make decisions that require… us. We got Equestrian magic that could help with finding out in the investigation. If another type of magic is really existent, we gotta know if it’s harmful or not. That’s my purpose ever since you and Vice Principal Luna told me to keep a good eye on it during the Friendship games… understand magic besides our type. I think this needs my attention.” Celestia and Luna looked at each other before they huddled together with their arms before whispering at each other. Charlie gently used his elbow to poke Sunset’s arm. Hoping she’d hear his thoughts, he sends it to her. “Thinking she’d allow it?” Sunset appreciate the casual tone he had on his thoughts and looked at him. “You’re really used to this, aren’t you?” Smiling, she continued her reply. “I don’t think she’ll refuse since there’s a personality of peace within her. Maybe she’s not like Princess Celestia back at my world.” “Princess Celestia?” “Alternate being from Equestria, the world and dimension I came from. The Princess rules a whole kingdom. Similarities on Principal Celestia, is that they’re both caring like they’re both mothers. They both cherish their subjects and they both know what makes them grow too.” Sunset’s reply just came before Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna got back from the huddle. With that, Celestia said her final decision. “I will grant this request, but granted, you will have at least one of your friends, only, to come with you.” Sunset was interested in this condition and nodded. “Sure thing. Less numbers from my party, the better. And it’s less likely Mayor Warren would catch up to what we do.” “Then it’s agreed. Let me know of who you’ve chosen to take with you. I’ll make arrangements on your leave with Luna.” Celestia’s reply came just before Charlie and Sunset said their goodbyes. Charlie sighs as he closes the door behind him, leaving him with twilight on that hallway before walking with her. “So who are you gonna take with ya?” “I think I already got someone in mind.” “Good to know-” Charlie got interrupted when Sunset suddenly disappeared in front of her from a hint of magic. He got slightly startled when someone poked him from behind, only to find out it was Sunset. “What the-?” “Told ya. Magic improvement.” Sunset said it with a smug face. 1425 hours… Since the month doesn’t demand that much of anything school-related, my friends and I agreed to meet up in the music room where the Rainbooms, meaning us, practice sets of pieces we come up with. I gathered us all there save for Twilight who’s gone, and Charlie Darwin just nearby. He’s giving us privacy, but he’s making sure he at least hears us. Seated in a circle in the music room, the girls were having the conversation to themselves, but Applejack feels suspicious seeing Charlie nearby. Sunset spoke up. “Applejack, you can relax. He’s pretty much okay to me.” “Still,” Applejack replied. “He’s pretty focused on all of us.” “Of course he is! He’s making sure we’re not suspicious to him!” Rainbow Dash laughs at what Sunset said. “And you said you were since he’s been a pain!!!” And she kept laughing. Pinkie Pie thought of things and had an idea. “I can always think a way of pranking him! Thing is, if you want me to do stuff for that long, that’s fine too!” “Um…” Fluttershy wanted to speak up. “I want to point out that although he’s stalking, it doesn’t give us the right to abuse him for it.” “Too right, Fluttershy” said Rarity in agreement. “Darling… After thinking about it for a while, I’d say he can be trusted. He’s proven his stance on the situation with the mayor.” Sunset then stands, groaning before telling all of them. “But Principal Celestia said I’d only take one of you.” “ONLY ONE?!” The other girls exclaimed. “Sorry, but that’s final.” Sunset said it and put her arms on her chest. “And I already decided.” I know I had to think about it for a few hours since I was reviewing strengths and weaknesses, and maybe I would need the big muscle on this. Applejack’s got a unique perspective of keeping it simple and provides good advice to keep things on track. That said, I already had my answer. “Applejack,” Sunset called her. “You got a good role in keeping our foundation in friendship strong from time to time. You even helped Fluttershy during that Dazzle performance, and even in her audition.” Applejack winced, looking at Fluttershy who smiled at her. Then she looked back at Sunset. “She told ya, hm?” Fluttershy replied, looking with proud eyes at Applejack. “I should be sure you’d protect her too. Thanks for back then. I know you deserve it.” Applejack stands and faces Sunset, reaching her hand out to Sunset. “I’m glad to be given this chance. I won’t let you down.” She adjusts her brown cowboy hat worn on her head, letting her smile. And Sunset takes Applejack’s hand, grasping it tight before pulling Applejack close to a hug. “Thanks, Applejack.” “GROUP HUG!!!!” Pinkie pie shouted and it was normal for the rest. Charlie quietly groans, seeing all the girls make a big hug. “Unbelievable,” he thought. Sunset sends her little chuckles through her telepathy towards him. “See? It works out one way or another.” “Oh, shut up.” “Admit it,” Sunset sent through telepathy just before she stays silent enjoying the hug. And Charlie had that imaginary last laugh staying silent himself. SHORT #1 - “My Midnight of Another Star”Twilight – I had only one regret when I left Canterlot High. Guilt. No matter what kind of guilt it is, I still know that it was the only motivation I had for leaving. Is it permanent? Even I don’t know if it is. All I know is that I’ve been living by myself. Maybe my parents were worried that I left. But why haven’t they called? Maybe because they might know I’m still okay. Did Principal Celestia really keep my absence under wraps? What mattered back when I’m alone, is thinking. Back then before and during the Friendship games, I had the personality of someone who wanted to explore possibilities. You can pretty much tell when you’ve known my life that I’m like a mad scientist. I’d take that as a joke if I were you. No… in fact… Maybe take that as my deepest darkest ego. The nerdy girl with a dark side to her… most is what made my version of Midnight Sparkle. Which is why I’m surprised I even found out later on Midnight’s spirit had changed from the last time I saw and felt her… Twilight was all alone by herself at her rented room someplace else than Canterlot. She sighs, knowing that leaving her own circle of friends also involved leaving her parents. Although she only had a home in CHS being away from Twilight Velvet and Night Light, she knew she didn't have to worry about both of them. They believe she's strong girl ever since her past change to Midnight Sparkle and being defeated. They have no idea that she was more. Lying down on her bed in that rented room with her glasses off, she felt a presence. There was a slight coldness at her left arm and she glared at the owner of the hand... Then the coldness faded and warmth came. When Twilight saw the very familiar figure of Midnight herself, she gritted her teeth and growled, slightly pushing away Midnight and away from the bed. Twilight sat up, maintaining her glare on Midnight. "I don't need you, Midnight. I can take care of myself." From her brief surprise, Midnight easily turned to smirk at Twilight. "I'm a very solid memory of the Midnight you know, but I was always around. I explored the Existence I was only around to roam on as a spirit. The moment I completely left you at Camp Everfree was the moment I decided not to return to you in a harsh manner. I let you be." "On purpose?" Twilight asked raising an eyebrow. "Or maybe you just don't wanna make my friends aggressive if you come back." "Definitely not," Midnight replied looking at Twilight's eyes with no sign of lying in herself. "You pushed me away, so you deserved to be left alone. But abrupt from my peace from you, your own geode of power became my ticket to returning. And... I had been made one, of another version of myself." Twilight sighs, getting off the bed and using her magic to make it float. "Another version of yourself? You're joking." Midnight narrowed her eyes at Twilight. "I'm not even lying to you." "Really now?" Twilight asked raising her town and forced the bed down slamming on the floor to make a point before letting go of her magic. "You might be a part of me, but it doesn't give me all the reason to believe you." Midnight barks back. "YOU WILL, BECAUSE I AM PART OF WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY! I am the result of your curiosity, your knowledge, and your journey to becoming personified as Midnight Sparkle! And... I'm the only one who truly understands you as a person." She said it, and they both created a pause, since Midnight needed to see how Twilight reacts. Twilight paused herself to try processing what Midnight said and sadly, it made sense to her. How often would she be going to Canterlot High in the past to try getting the sense out of magic? But now she knows she was getting over her head with what she finally understands, she knows it isn't just that. It's something more broad than how she knew, before she met Sunset, and after. Eventually, Midnight saw how Twilight sighed. "Finally understanding my point?" Twilight nods. "I just didn't want my fidgety nature to come back. It doesn't need to. But if I'm going to accept having your logic, I might create problems with Sunset." She then decided to sit on the bed again. Patting a spot beside her, she saw Midnight nod and eventually join her to sit on the bed. "But enough about that. You said you met another version of yourself. What did you mean?" Midnight chuckled. "You'll like how I define things, since it'll be requiring your understanding of dimensions." With that statement, she got Twilight's attention and began to tell her story... She chuckled before she spoke up. "You don't know all the things I went through just to understand another perspective of me. After you've banished me from your body, my spirit traveled to another instance where I existed. You always hear of Twilight's student, Starlight Glimmer, right?" Twilight nods. "Yeah. Sunset Shimmer tells me stories. She's Princess Twilight's student." "Well, unlike in my instance where I would exist soon, the Twilight Sparkle who was supposed to take Starlight Glimmer in had a dark vision of Starlight. Instead of taking Starlight in, Twilight took Starlight to a dark void. It was supposed to be used for critical emergencies, but she knew by using it, she could never go back. So she used it, and she transported both of them into that place with only minimal light. "Princess Twilight explained that Starlight's actions were unforgivable, and that there's no such thing as equality without cutie marks, or core purposes given to every pony who lived in Equestria. Starlight argued she made mistakes and wants to be reformed, and she even begged for it. Twilight only smiled and laughed, before she started to unleash her powers of darkness, part of which was learned while reading Sombra's dealings with his own dark magic. Starlight was turned into black stone, just before Twilight fired a magic beam that completely shattered Starlight's stone figure into pieces, thus killing her. "Princess Twilight's cutie mark had darkened, and she transformed into that world's version of Midnight Sparkle. You know why? Because her purpose was renewed: What if there was a better power to rule over Equestria instead? Fallen from the grace of her friends and Princess Celestia, that world's Midnight had been busy trying to get Tirek out of Tartarus. Much to Twilight's surprise... Her newfound power of Midnight Sparkle was able to stun and subdue Tirek's guardian, Cerberus, before she broke Tirek out of captivity, not to give him a chance to backstab anyone again, because she'd already got that in mind for him. "Stealing his essence of eating magical power like he used to, Midnight proceeded straight to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna under the guise of Twilight, who eventually told them she'd gained more if she'd taken the helm for Equestria. It was too late that the two other alicorn princesses would react and Midnight shown her true majestic form before eating up the magic power of both princesses. "Years have passed after that, and her conquest of Equestria was over. Her friends were captured, and she even executed one of her friends as well: Fluttershy, the only one who was able to at least bring a spark of light in Midnight Sparkle. Fluttershy's actions of convincing Midnight of what better she'd do than subdue Equestria to doom was able to convince her, even if Fluttershy had already passed away. But even if Midnight is poised to rule over Equestria to make it better, she needed to change things." Twilight sighs as Midnight told that story to her. "What kind of changes, exactly?" "It's a kind that's good for almost everyone. There wouldn't be any need for anyone fancy, and those who are needed are business people, the general workforce, and no one showboating their own fortunes. Citizens who aren't any of them were given the choice to just be themselves or serve Midnight's kingdom to explore other worlds on other dimensions. Heck... she even granted travel to other dimensions with her power-" "Look... Just tell me what happened to her and how you were able to fuse her spirit to yours," Twilight said, running a bit impatient on the storytelling. Midnight nods and smiles. "That dimension's Midnight as I watched, battled other gods who refuse to be friends with her and she fought to the last breath to spread her influence. Just as she was about to die, ready to accept that the doom of Equestria would be her own absence, she sensed my spirit who was watching this. And she told me she knew I was there. "I remembered these words as she was fading away. 'Remember all that I've done was to better Equestria.' I didn't ask for anything else once she said those words. I had questions of what would happen if happiness fades from her world? Her own answer once I infused my spirit with her, is that happiness comes at another form, and so does anything else. We might think it disappears, but it mostly becomes another form entirely. I figured everything else would fall into place with that question answered. And with her knowledge... I understood. I became... so much more." Twilight looked away having heard Midnight's story. "So you're basically an Empress who destroyed Equestria, made it better in a way, and then you come back to me as- I don't know if I could ever trust you for plunging your own version of Equestria into chaos. But... making it better in the end? How?" Midnight stopped Twilight from speaking by putting her hand on Twilight's shoulder. Twilight's eyes glowed bright blue, matching Midnight's. "Then let me show you all that I've lost, what I've done... and what you could do if you decide for yourself." Twilight was then taken to a vision of memories from Midnight's eyes, telling her the whole story, how she'd overthrown Celestia and Luna, defeated all of her friends, and how she spread power to the right places to better Equestria... Later... Twilight decided to be in a convenience store that same night to think. Her conversation with Midnight was on a whole new level from before, and her calm nature, became one of better-calculating confidence in herself. She no longer had her glasses that time and she was browsing for items. She was by herself and the store clerk was at the cashier. Then a black-hooded figure entered before equipping a gun and pointing it at the cashier, he was quiet declaring his intention to rob the store and the cashier raised his hands, knowing he doesn't have security measures. Twilight caught wind of this and told herself this was typical, before approaching both of them. She saw the cashier taking out cash from the cash register. Then Twilight made a firm tone as she spoke at the Cashier. "Don't give him anything. And... hide." With that, the cashier quickly pulled the cash away from the counter and ducked to cover. The robber pointed his gun at Twilight. "What about you shut up?" "What about putting the gun down?" Twilight said before walking toward him. She then saw him squeeze the trigger, firing a round right at her before she glared and worked her magic. At the robber's awe, his own bullet stopped, so he kept firing at her until he had emptied his pistol and throwing it away. He was terrified, seeing all his bullets hovering near Twilight but never hitting her. She then lets go of her magic-hold on the bullets each hitting the floor. "You could have made it easy. Now you'll be judged." The robber then felt a sharp pain on his arm, the same one that held his weapon, before he felt a bone crack. He screams, just before he felt his wrist, and then a bone broke again, making him scream more. He was scared, forcing him to try recovering and stand, then make a run for it. But as he ran to the door, a frying pan flew to his head and hit him, eventually making him drop on the ground unconscious. Twilight easily overwhelmed and defeated him there. Then Twilight went to the cashier who was against the corner of the counter with fear in his eyes. She saw it, and knew what it meant. "You saw, didn't you?" As she asked, he nodded and never spoke a word, shaking in fear. "I left you cash on the counter. More than enough for you." Then she held up a box of orange juice in her hand so he could see. "Keep the change." And she left the cashier alone before walking out of the convenience store, opening up the box and drinking its liquid from there, safely walking away from the scene... Twilight returned from the convenience store, and she put the box of orange juice down at the small table in the apartment room before taking off her jacket. With magic drawn, she had spread her wings influenced from Midnight Sparkle. Though it had a mix of dark purple, she knew it was significantly lessened and it was colored with a brighter purple. She felt her power that night rise to a good height, but she had enough in her mind she didn't want to have a lust for more. Twilight groaned, folding her wings and trying to get used to the power she's wielding. "Midnight... if only it was easier..." Midnight spoke to Twilight through a voice in her head. "Nothing is easy. I once thought about it, and training DOES get you anywhere. You need practice. What you've done at the convenience store... It's a good thing you have control, but you don't want to lose control of it. I've been trained to practice peace in my time, so you should do the same. And your feelings towards your friends now? You've got to find peace against those feelings." Twilight nods. "I understand." By what Twilight has in mind, she spreads her wings again, before picking up her box of orange juice. Bright purple flames came from her arm, traveled to her hand and to the box before it was ignited in flames. She dropped the box and the carpet it touched started to spread the fire... Twilight was later watching multiple fire trucks outside the apartment building and felt the fire was extinguished. Midnight's voice spoke to Twilight. "You predicted that they could put out your fire?" "It’s not too big. And they're fast enough for that kind of emergency. Besides... I'm not one to doubt unless they really slack." After making her response, Twilight walked away from the building. "I'm not like you, Midnight. But I want to know what else I could do with the power I got. And I'm not one to succumb in lusting for more. What happens to me shouldn't shake my friendship with them further as it is now." "Sunset might not look like it, but one day... she'll use you." Midnight's words weren't putting Twilight in a trance. And Twilight knew it. "We'll see." For days, I’ve been practicing to better my powers. Midnight and I were talking often ever since. The darkness that she had from Sombra… It never existed. That’s why I’m never able to get the worst of what she is. She was a reformed Midnight Sparkle, my voice from another view. And the training really pierces into my emotions. I felt fear… hatred… lust. But channeling it together with the current power and alignment I have towards friendship? It made me feel that I’m so much more… Midnight was right. I have to overcome my own darkness to open a new mind… Twilight was reading a book in a town library that sunny day. She adjusted her glasses for a little while she was reading. She turned a page and sighed, knowing not much has to change to what she thought was the norm. Then she winced, lifting her eyes away from the book. Her breathing started to pace faster before she turned her head and her body around seeing a man under the cover of a shadowy aura. This entity had yellow glowing eyes. It even slowly etched a smile with its mouth that looked like it had fangs shaped from the shadow. She narrowed her eyes, closing the book she read while looking at the shadowy figure. “You seem out of place. If you like… I can send you straight to hell.” And after she said it, the shadowy figure chucked and started to walk towards her. She snorts at this before she walked towards the shadowy figure. In the eyes of the shadow entity, it chuckled, just before its target suddenly used magic to disappear. It then heard a voice from behind. “Surprise,” said the girl who it saw and the entity felt the back was pierced and the blade-like object goes through until the chest. It grunted in pain while seeing the sword made out of a lavender magic aura. “I’d like it if your kind never came into existence. You’re interesting though.” She said it with a chuckle before the entity was feeling too much heat from where it was stabbed. Twilight was pushing flames from her magic into the shadow entity and smirked just before she overloaded her target with fire. Soon, the shadow was turning into smoke, and soot had spread all throughout the library. It sent out fire alarms all over the place. But no sprinklers were installed in the library. Some people were starting to scream in panic as they ran out. But as no one saw her, she chuckled to herself, feeling her power surge well throughout her body. “I feel one… with my flames…” She muttered to herself just before she levitated off the floor, closing her eyes, she felt her own spirit morphed her clothes for a while before they turned back. She descends and lands back to the floor with a smile in her face. The boy who witnessed it all who was dirtied with the thick soot didn’t feel his legs shaking. But they were. “W-what-what-? What in the hell-? Who… are you?!!” Twilight smiled to herself. “Well that’s a very good question.” She grinned while turning her head to him with pupils dilated. Ehehehe… I was sure to tell him exactly who I feel I was. I’m great at releasing my darker side. And whether I’ve been feeling both sides of me, I can tell which to apply. This time… my own personality is whatever I please. And this is so much better than what I was before. She chuckled before replying to the boy. “I am Midnight.” AppleJack Reboot – Part 1AC130 flying in the skies… Nighttime… The AC130 transport aircraft was steady as it flew above the clouds… Sunset – Before I left Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack’s home, of course I had to meet the family. Applebloom, Big Macintosh, and Granny Smith. They showed me around too, and I really saw their big agricultural space really got the nearby Canterlot City to enjoy their products, since they produce from apples. When Applejack broke the news that she’s needed with me to handle something important someplace else, of course they were surprised. But what I really admire about her is that she’d never hide her sincerity towards helping others. I felt really sad to see Applejack go. It’s something I didn’t like either, but this had to happen. I chose her to accompany me but I was hesitant after that. She convinced me I shouldn’t change my mind, so I followed her suggestion. Then there was Spike who, after the whole ordeal with Twilight and the rest of us, wasn’t able to come with Twilight. He’s staying with Fluttershy right now but he feels very lonely. I talked to him before I went on my way to travel in the military plane with Applejack and he said he’s okay without Twilight. While in that plane, I was listing possible things we’d expect from that Agency team who retrieved… well… whatever’s left of Mayor Warren’s Private Investigator. It doesn’t feel weird when you think about the magic that did it, and I think it was brutal. Friendship magic is one thing, but something else completely disregarded life… If I’m really that strong enough… I wanna find a way to end the problems that type of magic causes. The AC130 was shaking a little when Applejack was lying on the makeshift bed on the plane while her hat was off and beside her. There were metallic crates around her that makes her feel a little surrounded, but the opening path out of the crates at least assured her there’s a way off her area. There were things in Applejack’s mind in regards to the matter at hand, finding that private investigator’s killer. She’s not one to brainstorm alone, so she sighed knowing she needs another perspective. Speaking of perspective, Sunset was already there. “Hey there,” she called. Applejack sits up on her makeshift bed. “Hey there, Sunset. Everyone’s either just getting used to the plane shaking, or it’s just making them nervous.” Sunset raised an eyebrow. “Naturally. There are scientists here too. Flying’s not for everyone.” I could tell she agrees highly. This was her first time leaving the Equestria-version state of this world. Oh… Forgot to raise the matter of Equestria being one of the United States that makes up about 15 percent of a large continent it’s in. Hm… Maybe now’s not the time to get into the details of the world. Point is… Applejack’s first time flying? At least it wasn’t laughable. She might have been nervous and startled during the takeoff, but at least she’s able to get past her fears. Applejack chuckled before taking a look at her small crystal geode shaped like an apple worn as a necklace around her neck. She even held it to inspect it. “Sunset… How’d you and Twilight ever get your geodes in your bodies in the first place? Wasn’t it forced?” Sunset nodded. “It felt like it. But what I don’t understand back then is why that was the case.” “I hear ya there.” Applejack looked at her geode and closed her eyes. It then started to glow as she predicted it would before she eyed the geode. “Sunset… I think I wanna go through it if it happens. Not that I’d want to, but I’m concerned about somethin’.” “And that’s what, exactly?” “Twilight’s fusion of her geode was so fast, and so was yours. I don’t know. Maybe her feelings of envy really rushed the process. You heard her say she envied you, right?” “Yeah.” “Then what’s the thing you were thinking about the whole time before she left you there at the school?” “I…” Sunset thought of things to herself just before answering. “Well… I thought of the welfare we all had and how Twilight leaving us would affect our friendship. I was the one who was most affected when Twilight was willing to leave, even after all the hardships we’ve faced… the games… at Camp Everfree… I was the one who felt our friendship needs to be so much more than it was… Wait… Are you-?” Applejack smiled just before her geode began to stick to her chest. “One thing I knew I was doing was keepin’ our friendship intact with what we’re focused on. Whenever I know we’re all having conflictin’ ideas, I try to snap us out of it. Whatever made us all fight, I make sure to be the first to give us all a wake-up call. Ya even saved me from getting too deep into my anger… once. I felt as if I needed to carry on that burden if you weren’t around, I’d step up to make our bond last.” Eventually, her whole body glowed with the same color as the geodes, making her close her eyes and groan just before the geode was starting to insert itself slowly. She chuckled at this. “Finally…” Sunset was seeing it with her own eyes. “Applejack-?!” “What the heck’s going on?!!” Charlie came in running to see what was happening and saw Applejack was glowing and starting to weaken. “Applejack?! What’s wrong?!” “It’s happening. Her own geode… It’s responding.” “You mean-? Same thing that happened to you and Sparkle? How?” “I understand it now.” Sunset looked at her palm before she saw her cutie mark briefly appear and let it fade at her will. “My element is Empathy, and Twilight’s was Magic. It was those two things that activated or sped up the process. Both of us felt what reminded us of our elements in our current lives. Applejack was reminded of how true her heart was towards our friendship and- I can’t believe it. This is how it would happen. I don’t know what’s causing this all to happen.” “Not- Important,” Applejack said before she gently laid herself down on her makeshift bed. She saw Sunset get close to her side just before she held out her hand. “Please.” Sunset nods and holds Applejack’s hand. She then felt surprised as she was feeling Applejack’s temperature. “You’re cold. Wait… No! Hang on, Applejack!” “Please… don’t leave me…” Applejack’s eyes were feeling heavy to her and she was closing them slowly. “Mmm…” And eventually, she saw the image of her own geode inside her body, slowly splitting into shards as the magic that worked between each shard started to move them all over her body. Applejack groaned in pain and gritted her teeth. “Aagh… Ahh…!” She tightened her grip on Sunset’s hand. She couldn’t hear Sunset or Charlie’s voices calling out her name, and she needed to focus on what was happening to her. Her body was feeling the same thing as she was slowly starting to lose consciousness. The stings she felt all over the body were starting to deepen and were leaving the surface. Soon, she started to relax and breathe until she was sleep. Sunset even felt Applejack’s grip give in. With her other free hand, she tested for Applejack’s pulse. Applejack was okay, and it was more evident with her temperature warming back to normal. “She’s… stabilizing? And she’s asleep.” Charlie sighed. “For how long? We’ll be wheels down in an hour.” “I know. This is why I need to make sure. If she stays asleep, I can manage-” “Absolutely not, Sunset! She’s gonna slow us down if she’s still asleep!” Charlie said this just before he started to emit a glow of red, possibly coming from Sunset’s magic before he was levitated off the ground. “H-Hey!! Put me down!!” Sunset was using her eyes and other senses to work her magic before smiling. “Charlie, she’ll be safe with me. You got my word on that. And if anybody asks, we’ll just say Applejack’s had a long night.” She then slowly puts Charlie back down before letting go of her magic. “You’ve got someone more capable to be with her.” “If you say so.” Charlie rolled his eyes after replying just before he walked away from Applejack’s makeshift bed. And Sunset looked at Applejack’s sleeping form, her knees tucked in to her chest lying on her side while surprisingly relaxed. She even heard Applejack relaxingly breathe, just before Applejack herself was feeling something else in her head change her experience. She would enter a dream linked to her own… __________________ The only thing Applejack experienced for the past five minutes or so was that the stars were around her, and gravity was ruling her fears as she fell. She fell and fell, making her shout her heart out. She held her hat at her chest, wondering if it would fly off in the wind. She saw the Earth below her as she fell, but she felt a gentle force slow down her fall. Eventually, her head was facing up again, sensing this force made her position upright. It was even weird when she sensed she was stepping on something… a floor piece of about 3 feet long, and across. And she was still seeing through the transparent floor piece the Earth she would crash into if she wouldn’t stop falling. “But what stopped my fall?” Applejack wondered in her thoughts. Then a woman’s voice spoke to her, older in its 30’s. “You’re wondering what brought you here. Celestia and I were waiting for this day, if ever it was true. It seems it was.” “What’s true?!” A puddle of royal blue magic travelled like a trail of sprinkles around her just before the magic made a shape, resembling a royal-blue colored mare wearing a black sash around her neck with a white crescent moon symbol on it. This particular mare seemed majestic with the unicorn’s horn on its head and the wings on its side. As it appeared, its wings were spread out, and it folded them when it was in front of Applejack. Applejack wondered what the mare was doing there and she winced at that realization. “Are you… that voice?” The winged unicorn nodded before speaking up. “We have different languages, but I can understand you-” “WAAAH!!” Applejack shrieked, making her step back, then realized she only has much room that she tried to stabilize herself. She felt her legs shake for a while before it faded, looking at the winged unicorn who was clearly in surprise, because of her surprise. “Are you… talking?” The winged unicorn rolled her eyes. “Surely you’ve heard Princess Twilight’s story of her coming from Equestria, Applejack. I’m sure you also heard of what you might think is a tall tale of talking ponies, in which in your realm they do not speak at all.” Applejack wasn’t sure about what to think and even blinked in disbelief before scratching her head. “I kinda understand when it comes to believing magic coming from your world is real, but I didn’t see anythin’ from Equestria at all! Honest!” Then she winced again. “Wait… You know my name?” “I sure do. I am Princess Luna. I currently reside in Canterlot together with Princess Celestia. And together, along with two other Princesses, we rule and safeguard Equestria.” Luna paused before continuing. “I raise the moon, and my sister Celestia raises the sun, so the two of us have a duty at a specific time of day. And one of the more crucial duties I have for every pony sleeping at night, is to monitor for problems in their dreams, and resolve things from there. But for you and I to meet,” she narrowed her eyes on Applejack, “is very peculiar. Celestia told me she had a vision of one in your circle of friends to be able to contact one of our champions.” “Wait, you’re serious?!” “I know I am, Applejack. Ever since Sunset Shimmer had informed us about the magic that seeped from Equestria and brought in to their realm, and the questionable amount it had actually taken in even before she came, Celestia and I both tasked Princess Twilight to leave us occasional updates on what is known on this phenomenon.” Luna clears her throat. “Let’s not talk about it for now. This dream connects you, and our Applejack of Equestria. And because the power inside you is maturing, this was a necessary procedure.” “Maturing?” “Princess Twilight SHOULD tell you if she explains in one of the replies she makes to Sunset Shimmer. She’s aware of the dream you’re having right now, and is even connected to me.” “Y-you mean she’s-?” Applejack then looked around before seeing a magenta-colored pony, also a winged unicorn in nature who smiled at her. “You’re-? Princess Twilight?!” “APPLEJACK!!” Princess Twilight’s eagerness to meet the human Applejack made her gallop and even pounce on her other-worldly friend. She hugged her friend, and the country girl who was sitting on the floor hugged back. “I’m so glad you’re here!!” Applejack felt her own hug was making her and Twilight warm. A smile was formed on her face on this feeling before letting go of Twilight. “So this is where you’ve been to when you’re busy.” “Ehehehe… Not really.” Twilight replies with a grin. “Don’t forget that I’m the Princess of Friendship in Equestria. And I’m just here to guide you through the dream like Princess Luna. And since you’re here… We may as well take you around the place where my circle of friends had formed.” Applejack then saw the scenery change around her just before she realized she was standing on a soil path that leads to a small town. She noticed there were ponies at that town, at somewhat the same type as Twilight was, with others varying. “W-where are we?” “That’s Ponyville right there, Applejack.” Twilight said while trotting ahead of Applejack before stopping and looking back. “I arranged things with Princess Luna so we’d give you a tour. Of course, you’ll be meeting our world’s Applejack soon enough! Come on!” And Applejack smiled before following behind Twilight Sparkle, the first version of Twilight who she was true to first in her world… __________________ Visions went black for a certain individual. The girl groaned, concentrating her power towards certain parts of the United States of America. She felt spots of darkness and shadow starting to grow all over the country. Twilight opened her eyes while seated on the floor. That night, she witnessed the candles that were once lit around her have finally gone out. She was in another place, a more subtle house which is yet to be claimed by an owner. The living room was huge, she would sometimes think to herself. And it wasn’t really too dark as the moon’s rays shone in the light her surroundings partially. “Something’s happening,” Twilight muttered eyeing her glasses just beside her and looked away from it. “What’s this darkness? Shadow?” “I’m not sure either” Midnight’s voice replied. “You’re strong in sensing power surges from different types of magic that are becoming noticeable. If I’m right of what I felt on that same power, it’s beginning to move… towards Canterlot City.” “Hmm…” Twilight frowned, not seeing a reason to doubt since that’s what she’s confirming. “But it’s beginning to form in groups. What does this mean?” “Even I don’t have an idea.” “This magic is so powerful that even my powers sense it… This is going south… All of it. I… I have to be there to see. Being just here isn’t going to help.” “It’s always been up to you, Twilight. You now have my powers not just to understand magic, but to exploit it once you learn them. That’s how I’ve succeeded back then as an Empress. I study my enemies and try to outwit them.” “It’s not as easy now as it looks, Midnight. We don’t even know if it has a mind of its own.” Twilight replied and heard Midnight chuckle. “What?” “Who said I had it easy as an Empress as well?” Midnight replied this to Twilight, even making Twilight think. “Of course you have to be patient for this matter. Now… what’s your next move?” Twilight decided to stand up. At that time, she was barefoot while in the house. As she eyed her own eyeglasses, she was making sure her magic was doing her hair, changing its style to look like a beautiful twist that climbs upwards. She smirked, raising her foot and slamming it down to her glasses, breaking its frame and making the glass shatter. She groaned a little, feeling her foot was even bleeding, but even her magic that was so powerful was beginning to mend her wounds healing it so quickly. “You know exactly what I have in mind, Midnight. If these Shadows are going to threaten everyone else who’s around Canterlot City, I’ll be sure to find weaknesses.” She then walks and closes her eyes before she opened them again revealing her eyes that were once white and magenta were now a bright blue-green color and darker magenta. “If they choose to force my hand… I will raise hell on them.” AppleJack Reboot – Part 2Applejack – Ponyville wasn’t just great… It’s actually amazin’! I didn’t know how the mechanics went with just the dream itself, but Princesses Luna and Twilight did a nice job! I actually believe Ponyville as it is. Just the little hiccup I can’t talk to any of the other ponies beside Twilight and Luna since they’re not real. But I DID find out Princess Twilight’s friends in general and what they mean to her. We didn’t take too long since Princess Luna insisted we move the dream on, and have me finally meet my ponyself. Looks like we didn’t have to walk far. I was seeing exactly what I needed to see… the trademark and symbol of the Apple family. The wooden sign with the hole of the apple hanged from the entrance of the orchard was the first thing Applejack saw before she saw a somehow familiar barn, red in its color but looking to be more convincing to be her own back from her world. “I… I can’t believe it…” She muttered these words while smiling eventually seeing the vast amount of apple trees around the farm. “So many apple trees… so much more than what our farm would get… and it’s actually here… Sweet Apple Acres…” The Equestrian Princess Twilight was beside Applejack looking from the orchard to the country girl. “Ready to meet your ponyself?” “Darn tootin.” Applejack replied before she walked ahead with Twilight following behind her, while aware Princess Luna would be watching from another location entirely. Pony Applejack was rubbing her hoof on a giant apple that was touching the ground, while still attached to the currently bent tree that it grew from. “A better dream than anything… I was waiting for this…” She even moaned while putting her face next to the giant apple and rubbed it against her face gently. “This is more li-” “Whooooo-weee!!” A voice, country in nature and female from its source was heard just nearby, and Pony Applejack saw a being with two legs. Then the girl spoke more as she looked at the apple. “Is that apple huge? Hm! Can’t wait to-! Oh!” The girl looked at Pony Applejack and waved in a greeting. “Howdy!” Pony Applejack was baffled as she approached the two-legged girl slowly, trying to eye the human girl. She looked weird, having clothes with a single apple on the shirt and that hat that seemed to familiar, since it’s an exact copy of her own. She gasped and stopped where she is. “Wait a darn second! Hold on! You’re thinkin’ I’m crazy, but-! Do you-?” “Eeyup!” Human Applejack replied with a grin. “I can understand ya fine!” Then she knelt to get in level with her ponyself before her grin turned back into a normal smile, eyeing the pony in front of her. “Hey there, Applejack.” Pony Applejack never understood this for a few seconds but she grinned the moment she realized it, galloped right at her human counterpart with a tear leaving her eye before putting her hoof around the human’s shoulder to hug. Immediately, the pony felt her own magic along with her human self. And as the human self knew it, she hugged back and felt her ponyself sharing magic with her own… Even the Human Applejack was crying while smiling. The country girl stayed in a hug for a while with her pony counterpart. “I can’t believe it… It’s like we’re a complete match… You’re actually Twilight’s friend? In Equestria?” Pony Applejack knew just what to answer. “Twilight’s told me all about ya, other me. But I didn’t see this comin’.” Twilight was only watching from afar while Princess Luna was right beside her. She heard both Applejacks laugh in enjoyment and already figured they were finding common ground now that they’ve seen and greeted each other. “They seem happy together,” Luna said. “And they’re actually sharing magic.” “This is a fantastic event, Princess Luna.” Twilight spoke as she looked at the Applejack pair with a serious face. “But with what’s happening right now, who knows how the other human counterparts would meet with their ponyselves? This is only Applejack meeting a pony of her own identity. There’s still Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash. If Princess Celestia is really able to help on this, we could really have everyone realize their true potential.” “And what about YOUR counterpart, Twilight?” Luna asked this as she eyed the Princess of Friendship. “Don’t forget you have yet to talk to her after she left her school.” “Yeah,” Twilight replies with a frown. “If only I could get to her, but I think she stopped listening to Sunset. Who knows what she’s like right now? If only I didn’t stress the difference between the two of us… ” “As much as I’d like to agree to your logic, it’s still not your fault. Her own pursuit of envy was the thing that drove her and misinterpreted your advice in regards to her place in her circle of friends. Remember: She’s just as a stubborn as you are. She’d see her way back to her circle of friends soon.” Luna looked at the two Applejacks. “It’s only a matter of time,” she muttered loudly. Twilight sighed in defeat as she looked at the two Applejacks now just talking to each other. “You know me too well, don’t you, Luna? Well… I believe so too. Even if her mind is steered by Midnight Sparkle-” She groaned, as if she didn’t feel she said the right words. “No. I believe this other me knows how to control her emotions and steer herself back, with power or not.” “How do you know?” “Because one thing was clear from her after I knew about her place in her circle of friends. She’s willing to give what she’s got to be not just of value, but to have a place in their circle. She’s looking for more than just the friendship she knows she still has, but as well as… recognition.” Luna raised an eyebrow looking at Twilight. “Won’t that complicate things a bit?” “I know. That’s why Sunset’s close to the other me… quite close that she’d get under Twilight’s skin.” And Twilight winced before looking at Luna, gently glaring. “Sorry!! Human me has Midnight Sparkle in her too, so there’s that!” Twilight laughed nervously looking back at the two Applejacks at a distance. Luna shook her head and looked back towards the orchard barn as well. “It might be appropriate. I hope you’re right. If this Midnight Sparkle truly is dangerous, it could get interesting for Sunset.” Twilight sighed at this. “That’s what I’m worried about.” At the human dimension, little chuckles coming from Twilight came onto the night as the village was in flames. Some people were running away from figures of shadows that were attacking them. One by one people were being stopped from behind as shadow tentacles pulled them to their doom: Shadows that looked physically like monsters, now more than eight feet tall, and there were 4 of them. The shadow monsters growled as they pulled their tentacles into consume their victims and each tentacle came from their mouths. Their eyes, terrifying and colored yellow stared at their victims before they gave in before being consumed. Other villagers used pitchforks to fight the monsters only to be easily subdued by the monster’s multiple tentacles. Then when they heard Twilight’s chuckle, they all turned to one direction. Twilight was walking in her powered form having lavender flames on her hands by her sides while wearing a mask around her eyes that were also made from flames. She stopped as the monsters took interest into her and growled at her. “Hello, troublemakers. What are you, really?” She asked with a curious tone before her pupils shrank while turning to a glowing lavender pair, and her smile turned into a grin. “WON’T YOU LIKE TO BE STUDIED?” She said those words, amplifying her voice with an echo startling the monsters before they all growled at her. “COME AT ME!” Twilight then spread her wings and flew up before she saw the monsters charged at her. She laughed boisterously before swinging her arm at them and releasing a flame wave slicing right at two monsters attacking her and groaned in pain. And Twilight was in the battle of her life, evading and blocking attempts from monsters to subdue her in their tentacles, only for those tentacles to be burned by her counter-attacks. She got terrifyingly close to each one of them at a short time to deliver critical blows. There was even a time she was standing still when one of the injured monsters charged at her. She simply smiled and let her magic work inside her attacker until it bursts into flames from the inside, letting it briefly groan in pain before stopping and dying. The other monsters weren’t so lucky either, only barely putting a scratch on Twilight before they were all defeated in the village. When the battle was over, one of the villagers, a 62 year old male came out from the sidelines beside one of the ruined houses. He saw the teenage costumed girl descend to the ground and approached her on his knees crying out. “Oh, please! Please! Please help me! My family’s gone! I don’t know what to do…!” Twilight then saw the old man reach with his two wrinkly hands before gently slapping them, before glaring at his eyes. She no longer had her eyes glowing and was normal was she was doing this. “I don’t want you to feel scared. Maybe you could have run off. The rest of the houses are burning.” “Please… I…” The old man tried to speak out more but he heard screams coming from one of the burning houses. “Oh my!! Frieda! My daughter’s still alive!! I need help!” Snorting, Twilight began to go past the old man in her annoyance and looked towards the house. Putting her hand out and pointing it to the house, she concentrated her magic. A few seconds later, the fire was beginning to get attracted until all the flames from the same house and the neighboring houses were gone. Twilight felt the heat of the flames on her hand as it formed into a ball. She then threw the fireball towards a safe space just before it exploded. She then enters the partially smoking house while covering her mouth. “Now where are they?” she thought. Just several seconds later, the old man saw the costumed girl walk out and was even followed by a woman in her twenties levitating behind her savior. Frieda was then lowered just before she ran towards the old man and hugged him while getting on her knees. “Oh, Frieda…” Twilight was seeing the old man hug the woman just before she attempted to hover off with her magic when she was called out. She hovered in place to look and recognize at the old man by his voice. “I don’t like to be recognized.” “No, it’s just… You saved us.” The old man looked around and listened and noticed there were sirens from a distance heard as an echo. “There’s no way we could repay you, but I would rather try if you will allow me.” Twilight knew the man was sincere but she had a saddened emotion. “I don’t think I’d easily allow myself to accept. Thank you, but… I tread a dark road right now. You don’t need to repay me.” She looked away, replying further, “You can say I have a conscience for not making anyone-” “PLEASE!!!” The old man got on his knees as he walked with them to the girl who hovered. “Please, Frieda needs this. She needs… She needs a new life to start with! I don’t know who else to turn to but you!” “Dad…” Frieda muttered her response. And Twilight had a good look at Frieda having dark green hair and orange natural eyes. Being in her twenties, Twilight figured Frieda would have some future. Would that work out with Twilight? Finally after Twilight thought of it, she replied and looked at the young woman. “Frieda is it? You think you could help me with moving stuff? And… I might need a lab assistant.” Frieda gulped, sensing twilight’s sternness towards her. “Laboratory? Are you a doctor or scientist?” “You can say I’m a scientist.” Twilight replied with a smirk before reaching her hand to Frieda. “So… If you really want to make use of your time, make use of it with me. Good thing your old man was wise.” As Frieda finally took Twilight’s hand, Frieda hovered next to Twilight just before the two of them flew up high in the night. And Twilight closed her eyes, worked a certain magic in the air while telling Frieda in magic telepathy. “You’re now under the management of Miss Midnight.” “M-Miss Midnight? Wait… Were you in my head just now?” “Technically, yes. There are a lot of things you don’t know about me.” Twilight’s mask then glowed before it faded from her face, revealing her identity. “Call me Twilight when we aren’t meeting in times like this. Nice to meet you, Frieda.” “Um… Are you going to demand so much of me? I’m mostly qualified as a technician. I can’t be that much help if I’m not good in my field.” “We’ll talk specifics later,” Twilight said before she flew them both forward with her magic safely away from the village… The military plane landed on the large airstrip in the middle of the desert-like environment when the sun was just riding. There was a significant number of people in military uniforms watching this as it happened. And about an hour later, two SUV’s left the same guarded airstrip, first travelling onto a dirt road before it found its way to a two-lane major road. Both SUV’s travel in a convoy each travelling its pace of 87 miles an hour. Sunset was in the second SUV riding as a passenger in front while Charlie was driving. Applejack was sleeping at the back peacefully with a pillow and her hat on her face. But even Sunset felt a little unsure of this plan herself. She imagined how it went with Charlie when she decided to take Applejack along anyway with their conversation before they landed… “I’m serious,” Sunset said. “Princess Twilight told me it’s… sort of a success. With Princess Luna guiding the dream, there’s no doubt Applejack’s gonna turn out better with her powers. The maturity really requires she bonds with her own element.” “So it’s all a matter of waiting?” Charlie asked. “What if this process takes longer than usual? We could lose valuable time here.” “It’s like I said before. We won’t even have her be a problem when we look at the evidence on our dead P.I., okay?” Sunset remembered she told Charlie that, but now she feels unsure, with Applejack still asleep at the back. She felt the wind from outside as the SUV travelled its pace with her window down. Sighing, she began to ask. “Charlie, what do you think we’d find on… that body?” “Hopefully something that tells us what really chopped him,” replied Charlie keeping his eyes on the road. “I had the Agency scour for dark magic experts and only one in particular came up. Goth boy, your age, probably.” “Goth boy? Hm.” Sunset looked briefly at him before looking straight to the road with the front SUV on view. “I can get a goth knowing one angle of magic, but what makes you think he’s dependable?” “Well for one thing, I’ve been given information about how he sees pretty shady auras in people. Those auras cause acts of evil in future events and that pretty much gave us the motivation to get him. The range we gave him was a week, and we made sure he’s in a room where he can’t communicate, which he never minded. He really helped us out. “Some of those events he predicted days ago just matched. We not only got him comfy for our sake, but we had to make sure we get his trust for us to really get him on our side.” But Sunset wasn’t sure about how Charlie thinks of this boy. “You gotta be careful, Charlie. Maybe he’s proving his worth, but you can’t take away the possibility it’s only towards another agenda.” “You mean a boy like him who was willing to help us has a hidden agenda? We would have seen his face or his-” “And you shouldn’t forget that there’s another type of magic meant for masking emotions. I don’t know if he does it, but I can find out for you.” And as Sunset expects after she suggested her idea, he gives her a brief stern look. She rolls her eyes in annoyance knowing what it means. “I know. You don’t like it if I interfere and all. Still, you can’t be too careful." After she responded, she was hearing a familiar voice groan from behind and smiled. Looking behind her, she was seeing Applejack stirring awake while taking the cowboy hat off her face. "Applejack? Hey, you're awake!" Applejack slowly opened her eyes holding her cowboy hat on her hand before sitting on the chair and feeling the vibrations of the SUV. "Ugh... Oh... Are we heading there now?" "Yeah. Good thing you're here when we need you. So... We're heading to a place to meet this boy who's got a grip of magic himself. From what Charlie tells me, the boy could read futures from auras coming out of people. Maybe it could... ours?" Sunset said with the last word coming in form of a question. And Applejack caught Sunset's statement with a reply. "Think so. I think I remembered talking to Princess Twilight about spells... Hm... Dangerous thing to handle the mind." "I'm not saying the boy's psychic-" Sunset stopped and winced. "Wait... Did you say 'Princess' Twilight?! Did you really talk to her?!!" "Yup! She was with me when- Oh! Did ya know I saw myself as a pony?" "Yeah. Princess Twilight gave me a heads up you were bonding with your element." Sunset said this while the two SUV's safely got across a railroad crossing. Then she saw two connecting towns some miles ahead in the horizon. "Hm... Is that Starleaf Town?" Charlie looked at the distant town ahead while making a minor turn together with the leading SUV ahead of what he drove. "Yeah, that's Starleaf. Known for accumulating small amounts of solar energy for better purposes. Some of the electric companies there are under privatized corporations utilizing other natural resources as part of the energy input. Starleaf Town is... Well, it's just starting to bloom but it's not a city since there's a need for population and income increase here." "So this is where we'll find our goth boy?" Sunset asked. "Yeah. His name's Conrad Harley. His friends however call him Silvergate." "Silvergate?" Applejack butted in. "Sounds likes crazy doohickey to me. Reputation?" "You're right. He's made a name for himself before we found him." "Then I say let's be careful," said Applejack relaxing her back on the long leather seat. "Is he alone?" "Not quite," Sunset replied. "He's under guard by some agents. And the safehouse we're getting to probably has CSI staff." "Crime scene... It really makes me think this ain't so simple, Sunset. Let's be careful anyway." Applejack's advice sticks to Sunset. Meanwhile, Charlie was suddenly vigilant. He had his earpiece on him and he was glaring at his left and right. Sunset noticed Charlie's behavior. "Charlie?" Charlie groaned. "Sunset, Vic 1's reported that the safehouse stopped responding. A comms team there was supposed to report every fifteen minutes." "Hm... If the Agency has any people who are lazy-" "Hey, they're disciplined enough." Charlie glared briefly at Sunset before looking towards the road and seeing the lead SUV pull over to a car park that belonged to a motel. Charlie drove the SUV and parked it just beside the lead one before he applied the handbrake. "Sunset, we're gonna have to be careful on this one. Agency assets are... Well... They're hours away from this place. Get out." As he said it, he unfastened his seatbelt and opened the driver-side door, followed by Sunset and Applejack. He then approached one of the agents from the parked lead SUV. And he recognized him as Agent Chadwick. "Chadwick, anything?" Chadwick turned away from his fellow agents from his group and turned to Charlie and his company. "Charlie, still no radio contact. Hughes was able to tap in to the surveillance cameras." "And?" "That's what weird." Chadwick replied and another agent beside him gave him a tablet with screen just before showing Charlie a video. "Take a look." Charlie took the tablet and held it up for Sunset and Applejack to see. They saw the video was showing the image of some sort of makeshift examination room, with the operating table in the middle and on it was a body covered in a blanket. The camera the image was showing from was only placed on high corner. The image was disturbing. There were two bodies on the floor, with one wearing a black suit and the other wearing a white science uniform. The bodies seemed to be unconscious. There was a steel door nearby that was closed but was later opened up by an agent. But as the agent was quickly closing the door, the agent was suddenly hit by spikes entering through his face, and his whole body had gone limp before he fell backwards and hitting the floor dead. This was before a mass of black goo that was sentient and formless came through the steel door just before it wrapped itself around the operating table and the blanketed body. It then spread around the room even covering the camera lens that recorded the whole thing. The video then showed a static image. Chadwick gently pulled away the tablet. “And that was recorded 10 minutes ago.” “That was the examination room,” Charlie said. “If the comms team had gone dark, wait… That’s impossible. Imagine how fast you’d be able to subdue the comms team, and… The entrances… It’s guarded and it’s to make sure the right people come in. Can’t believe this- SON OF A-!” He couldn’t continue and he slammed both hands of the nearby SUV. “Whatever that hell that is, it’s got control of the safehouse!!!” “And soon, I will have control of you.” A teenage boy’s voice echoed from below in an echo. Then Charlie realized something with what he saw. Near the SUV’s were sewer drainages. “The examination room’s-” “-got DRAINS!!!” Chadwick completed Charlie’s sentence and drew out a pistol he kept as a sidearm to point it at the sewer only for sharp objects to pass through the holes of the drains, forming multiple spikes hitting his chest. There was so much that three were close to his heart. He stepped back and gasped in pain before screaming, just before a massive amount of black goo came out of the drainage system, pushing everyone back, and even covering the SUV’s in it. They all saw as they collided on the floor that the goo had towered over them, 10 feet in height and about 7 feet wide in mass. It even threw an SUV upwards they thought it had consumed with its body. It crashed on another travelling car on the road. Soon, the other civilians driving cars were alerted and startled, making them stop to look at the goo-monster. Those at the sidewalk saw it all and some screamed before running away from the scene. Charlie immediately pulled Chadwick back to his parked SUV hearing his cries in pain with those spikes still in his chest. He doesn’t have his sidearm with him since he was hit hard. “Hang on, Chadwick! You’re gonna be okay!” Meanwhile, Applejack led Sunset and were just beside Charlie and Chadwick. “What in tarnation is that?!” “How should I know?!” Charlie replied later hearing gunshots and recognized the automatic fire from MP5’s before peeking his head. Agents were shooting at the goo monster only to get showered with spikes. One of the agents got too wounded and lost his life while the others too cover in another of the SUV’s. They didn’t dare fire back at the goo monster firing more of those spikes. Then it looked like the goo monster was showing a face in the middle of the mass. And out came a teenage boy with black lipstick and fangs for teeth. He had black eyes as he looked around. And when Charlie realized the boy looked at him, he was enraged. He knew who it was. He then opened the nearest door of the SUV he was near to before drawing an MP5 himself, checked for ammo and peeked out of the rear corner and took a good look of the monster and boy who controlled. “CONRAD!!! YOU SON OF A BITCH!!! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!!!” Conrad chuckled as he looked at Charlie, even making the goo monster’s body turn to him. “Aw, you must relax. This won’t hurt a bit! Charlie, I wanted this.” “After what we’ve done for you?!! WHY?!” Charlie demanded answers while he kept his SMG aimed at Conrad’s head. “You don’t care about dying, do you?!!!” “Maybe you should die here, Charlie. You? Do things for me? You shouldn’t have. In fact, I wish you never should have! It made me look like I’m dependent! Because really, that’s what your bosses did! They overdid it and I lost my reputation as the greatest magic observer and analyst! Now, I got nothing. With this Dead P.I.’s body now part of the mass, I can finally be independent! I don’t need your help! I can gather as much magic as I can!!!” “NO WAY!!” Sunset couldn’t stand what Conrad was saying and stood beside Charlie. She heard him warn her not to do it, but Sunset didn’t listen and glared at the goo monster. “Conrad, you can’t do this! Whatever you think about what magic does for you like provide power and make you independent… That’s not how it works!! You still need those who understand it!” “Hmph,” Conrad snorted. “I can sense past conflict from you. You once felt power was everything to you. But you threw it away, all because of… friendship!” Charlie noticed Sunset was surprised and he even saw her look at him. “Remember. Conrad knows the aura of every person he’s in range with. He probably read yours too.” Conrad grinned showing more of his fangs. “Admit it! You want it back! Isn’t that right?!” Sunset glared at Conrad. “No. I was way past that. Wanting power and things you thought you’d need only to hurt others? I saw my monster when I thought about it, even when I wasn’t with any of my friends. It isn’t the answer to how I’d live. I was looking for… somewhere to belong.” She stepped forward. “What are you doing?!” Charlie kept the aim of his SMG at Conrad. But Sunset ignored him and continued to speak at Conrad. “Conrad, you’ve got to let this go. This isn’t you.” Conrad only looked for a while at Sunset before maniacally laughing at her. “ARE YOU CRAZY, YOU BITCH?!!! This is exactly what I was after! I just didn’t know how to get it! Thanks to uncontrolled shadow magic which I can control, I can actually do something for a change!” Sunset gritted her teeth, half-expecting her words wouldn’t get through to him. “Then what do you want?” Charlie briefly looked beside him, seeing Chadwick who was hanging on as he was trying to stay awake. But as he looked at where Applejack was supposed to be, she was nowhere to be found. “What the hell-? Applejack?!!!” Conrad chuckled evilly and approached Sunset. “Well, I want to be the greatest villain who ever lived. I want my story to spread. Once upon a time, I was weak, and I live happily ever after as a hulking beast! This is exactly what I want! Now… I get to show you exactly how!!!” Conrad then made black spikes shoot out of his giant goo body before Sunset deflected them with a magic shield. “Oh? So you really want to do this?” Sunset chuckled before magic started to work around her body, slowly transforming her and it paced itself. “I do. You know what? I don’t mind either. I feel you, but I feel more of the people around me. I hurt people back then, and I won’t allow you to do the same.” She smiled and closed her eyes, letting more of her magic work around her, transforming her clothes and putting a longer ponytail. Eventually when she finished, she opened her eyes and looked at Conrad. “So… What about it?” Conrad’s head tilted and he looked at a mother running away pushing a stroller. “What about no?” He then fired spikes at the mother pushing the stroller. “NO!!” Sunset shouted just before she saw a miraculous event as a broken-down SUV was put in the way of the spikes on the road. It stopped the spikes and she looked at the new figure who came in. She saw Applejack walked in her ponied-up form like she was. “Applejack!!” Applejack nodded at Sunset and glared at Conrad. “While you two we’re having a great talk, I had to get the people from the motel outta there before you could hurt anyone else.” She briefly looked at the mother who was saved and she whispered a ‘thank you’ before running away. “If this the way you gotta be, then you gotta be taught the hard way. Too bad there’s only two of us.” She ran to the side of the SUV that wasn’t hit with spikes before doing a maneuver to quickly jump and kick the SUV, throwing it towards the goo monster. Seeing the goo monster hit with the SUV, it collides with the motel’s hard walls, even squishing the goo monster. Applejack stood to see what happened. “Cause that’s more than enough,” she muttered. “IT WOULD TAKE MORE THAN YOUR POWERS!!” Conrad’s enraged voice echoed before the battered SUV was thrown back at Applejack. Sunset made it in time to get in front of Applejack and formed two fists, then pushed them forward as the SUV collided with her fists, slicing the SUV in half as the two halves flew in separate directions not colliding with any civilians. Then Sunset realized it herself. “What was that-?” Sunset asked herself in her thoughts before looking at Charlie who was dragging Chadwick out of harm’s way. “We’ll take care of this! Get everyone somewhere safe!!” And she received a nod from Charlie in response. She saw Applejack get beside her and both glared at Conrad who was just re-forming itself into its towering goo monster form. “Looking for more?!” Applejack put her fists together, lightly punching each other as she prepared herself. “Come and get us. We’re right here,” she muttered loudly. Conrad chuckled before hiding his face behind the goo. “This is gonna be fun.” And so began Applejack and Sunset’s battle against the goo monster that day…
PrologueSimple events that have been going around on the inhabitants of Canterlot city have barely been noticed, but they don’t really know that there was always a high-tech government body watching each of its citizens. And out of that government body comes an agency that makes sure to contain information that is sure to cause panic. They make sure talks of new phenomena that entered the city in the later part of year 2017 was heavily regulated. Digital information can be deciphered out of its most encrypted state, and it can be translated, before the information that comes out of it is given a purpose, whether it serves as a threat or a benefit. To that agency, it was a benefit and a threat; a benefit to those who try to not cause panic to neighboring states, and a threat if it lands in the wrong hands. Because of this, it was eventually concluded that events concerning Canterlot City were to be treated as non-threatening, but in exchange must be protected. February 21, 2018... a Wednesday... 0915 hours... Just at a distance away from Canterlot High’s front courtyard was a parked white Heavy SUV. A light-brown haired light-orange eye-colored man who wearing a black suit was on the driver’s seat, while another man younger than the first with white hair and blue eyes was more energetic because of his hand and finger movements. The first was patient as he looked at the courtyard. The older man in his age of 29 years looked at the other who is 24. “You know you didn’t have to come with me, Chadwick.” Chadwick shrugged while he looked at his companion. “Could be an opportunity. How many times last year has it been since you’ve been in contact with Celestia?” “Since last year,” the other man replied. “Well... Longer if you think of our history. She was offered a position to be an analyst, but she’d rather in her experience be a teacher for real. Can’t blame her.” “Isn’t she a Principal?” “Yeah, next to the VP, Luna. Though... Celestia’s the type who gets things done. She sometimes teaches, but she’s mostly the principal she’s definitely working for. Remember. Institutions tend to have better folks who work hard if they’re motivated.” The man replied this before he opened the driver side door of the SUV. “Wait here, Chadwick. Won’t be long.” “Charlie, wait. You need me.” Chadwick said that, but received a glare in exchange. “Tch. Fine.” “You sometimes trip with your two left feet, Chadwick. That’s unbecoming of an agent, but I tolerate it because you’re something else. Now... wait here.” Charlie then got out of the SUV before closing the door, walking towards the front courtyard sighing on what he had thought of Chadwick. He thought of the younger agent as someone who’s capable. It’s just the smallest things about how Chadwick trips because he doesn’t watch how he walks. Shaking his head, Charlie shook off the thoughts as he went the double glass doors of the school before entering inside. The connecting hallways of the school were empty, so he knew more or less that the students were in class. He then reviewed in his mind of what Canterlot High is to him. It’s big and it has its own dorm rooms, since since some of the girls here were only enrolled but were not given homes in the city or the residential spots. Looking around, he passed the trophy case that signals the students of the school were earning achievements, both for themselves and for the school. That’s while they all know of what the school’s students had experienced several months prior. And it’s what he wanted to discuss about with a notable principal in the school. When he approached what he believed was the principal’s office door, he knocked first just before he heard a woman’s voice from the other side telling him to come in. Invited, Charlie opens the door and peeks his head in. Seeing the woman seated behind the desk with long hair having multiple bright colors divided vertically, and her purple eyes looking at a newspaper. He saw her writing something on one part of the newspaper using her pencil, and he figured she was answering puzzles. The woman spoke first when Charlie was about to say something. And she was still looking at her newspaper before getting something from her desk. “Welcome. Just a minute.” Charlie quietly sighed before coming in and gently closing the door as he saw the woman look for something in her desk. “Principal Celestia?” Celestia hears him call out to her before she held a brush and brushed her hair to smooth it out. And when she looked up to him, her face instantly was filled with shock. Looking at him in the eyes, she began to glare and stood up from her seat. “Special Agent Darwin,” Celestia said a little aloud than how she speaks. “Y-You’re here-? What are you-?” “Just... call me Charlie.” Charlie then approached and took a seat in front of the principal’s desk. “And... I have to very much get straight to business.” “Slow down, Charlie. First off... We talked about this. No one knows in the school knows who you are and they could ask questions. You said yourself that you’re not going to come, yet here you are.” Celestia had a tone a little raised because of what she felt: annoyed. She brushed her hair while taking away the newspaper in her desk drawer. She sat back down and sighed. “I was hoping we wouldn’t meet like this. You could have called.” Charlie then took something out of his suit and held a folder. It catches the attention of Celestia before he replied. “First off... Don’t worry about me. I slip in and out of buildings unnoticed and I know how to keep my tracks covered. And second... This might just be the only time I would show you this.” He then hands the folder to her, gently sliding the folder on her desk before seeing her hold it. And when she opened the folder, she winced at what her sight showed her. “I couldn’t risk sending them without being intercepted by a rival internet hack. So I had to do things the old fashioned way.” Celestia was clearly seeing colored pictures, of distant images focused on two particular girls, who she recognized as her students in Canterlot High. One had orange and yellow highlighted hair while the other had dark purple and light indigo highlighted hair wearing glasses. And from what the pictures describe, they were the only pictures taken, and were taken at multiple locations, in a sweets cafe, out in the outdoors, and just at the school courtyard. “Wait a minute... Are they-?” “Keep looking,” Charlie said. And Celestia browsed into the photos deeper before she came across bigger photos that in all purposes, made her feel nervous. She saw a picture of a tree-bark dome out in the woods, a picture of rainbow lasers reaching to the sky, and some blurred pictures of winged humanoids that weren’t all clear. Though in some smaller photos regarding the winged humanoids, she can see the notable ones were Midnight Sparkle and Daylight Shimmer. “What is this?” “That, Principal Celestia, is a collection of photos that were decrypted from another source’s hard drive, one whose owner had actually been working for quite an individual here in Canterlot City... Mayor Lisa Warren.” “What-? You’re not telling me she’s onto us, are you?” Celestia asked this out of nervousness. “Just... Listen first. Look, you called on favors which caught my attention and I’m doing this to protect the school, and its students, and Canterlot City for that matter. Mayor Warren’s role in collecting information is purely of another purpose. We didn’t even know she was collecting info privately, and this was since several months ago. Celestia... I’m just making sure you’re aware of it yourself, knowing this school had face its fair share of attacks out of abused magic. “Warren’s trusted private investigator made sure to keep the drives encrypted since he’s former military. He doesn’t like any of his data being exposed just like that. But if the Mayor knows her employees and wants accurate info, she’s got a reason. And for whatever reason, I can’t intervene. Not yet.” “Charlie?” “Principal Celestia, I’m gonna frank with you. I only have two teams in my disposal who are covering for you, with myself included as operational leader. It’s not in our extension to immediately exploit any of Mayor Warren’s assets unless we got authority or orders that we’ll even compensate on what we got. She’s an upstanding citizen of the country. With that said, I’m going to give you heavy advice. If you ever feel a presence of them observing you, best you prepare yourself and your students. You told me specifically that those seven girls were the source, the immediate danger, and the immediate saviors of other students here. We don’t know Warren’s play is after observing, but we’re sure she’s going to use what she found one way or another for something. But with lack of evidence... We can’t find any conclusion. For that, I’m sorry.” Charlie ended what he needed to say and stood up from his seat. “I suggest you burn those photos after you’re done with them.” Celestia was looking seriously at the photos even after Charlie had given her advice on what she needed to do. Then she raised her eyes to his and kept a firm stance on what she believes. “Not yet.” Charlie raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?” “If my students are in a certain form of danger, I’d still have to allow them to continue their lives as usual for as long as it would last. But as you said, it’s best I prepare them if the worst comes. Charlie, I’ll have to keep the photos.” “Hm. You’re gonna show the girls?” “Well... I have a plan to break it down slowly at best. And... I know the first of the seven who I could talk to. Best you’re here to talk to her too to explain things.” Celestia said this and immediately saw Charlie take a small step back. This made Celestia feel a little disgusted. “Charlie, you’ve got to help. You’re giving me this much help, so it’s impossible you can’t be unknown to the girls. One way or another, secrets can’t remain secret.” “Celestia, do you even know what the heck you’re saying?! Of course secrets can’t remain secret! But I’m higher up than Mayor Warren and the food chain!” Charlie replied with his voice a little higher than usual to make a point. He then continued. “I’m just making sure to cover all bases here. If I jeopardize myself-” Celestia stands up and puts the folder down to interrupt him, letting some of the photos scatter off the desk as she looked at him, having this emotion of fear somehow drawn on her face. “Please... I don’t want anything bad to happen to them. This is for their protection too, as well as the school’s. They treated everyone here like family. And that protective barrier we’d create will make it more probable we’ll all endure in spite of what the world would think. Charlie... This isn’t just their secret we’re protecting. It’s the secret of the school that chose to make it a secret for them, a token of gratitude after what they’ve done. It’ll be harder if I do this without you. Please.” She paused to see that Charlie himself couldn’t react properly. She even saw him look away and she walked off the desk before stopping front of him. Putting her hand on his shoulder, she sees him look back at her. “You’ve got to see reason. Deep down, I see the girls like they’re my daughters, especially Sunset Shimmer who’s changed ever since.” Charlie has his doubts but he witnessed in her eyes that she’s more than just expressing sincerity. She has a point. If he doesn’t intervene to closely assist her in talking to the girls and making himself known, how would he be protecting them, in light of the Mayor’s investigating party keeping both eyes on Canterlot High? He sighs and tells her answer, in a form of a question. “What’s that plan you got in mind?” At this, Celestia smiled. “Listen carefully,” she said. 1218 hours... Just outside at the Canterlot High statue at the front courtyard, one side of the square platform became liquid thanks to it becoming fluid with a dimensional gate’s opening. Out came a girl wearing casual attire, having dark purple hair and highlighted light-indigo strands. She smiled before muttering to herself. “Finally, I’m back.”
Setting awareness (Part 1)February 21, 2018... a Wednesday... 1222 hours... Cafeteria is somehow full with students eating up lunch. It’s not an unusual time for the meal as everyone is relaxed. In most of their minds, finishing up with morning classes was like lifting a full ton of their brains. Sunset Shimmer having the orange-yellow streak hair was seated together with her friends. She felt like smiling, but somehow she felt a little off. That time, wasn’t something as she’d felt positive of. Because of that, a frown easily came on her face. Twilight who was wearing glasses on the table noticed Sunset’s frown and decided to move near her friend before speaking up. “Sunset? Are you okay?” Then as Sunset looked at Twilight, she smiled but it later faded to a frown again. “I’d love to say yes, but no. Now that I think about it... Well... Let’s just say I was... feeling heavier. Twilight... I gotta ask you something. You remember your days in Crystal Prep, right?” She observed Twilight nodding and continued. “How’d you feel when you were getting so much knowledge you needed? And... it includes how excited you were about what you were finding in CHS back then.” At this, Twilight raised an eyebrow. She had something in mind for that. “Sounds like you wanna be reminded of that. But...” She was curious. “What’s with the sudden question to muse over about me?” “Just finding something common. I got something in my mind. I just don’t know how I’d share it yet. Does it help?” After Sunset asked, Twilight just shrugged her shoulders. She then decided to speak up to answer. “Well... Finding new stuff back then especially when I was an ace in academics, made me feel excited of the future. And...When I was trying to find the energy I didn’t know then was magic, I kept pushing myself to know more. It... made me all the more possessive with what I was back then. And... Post-Friendship games happened. I’m not so sure gaining too much knowledge helps balance someone. I had to give myself something instead, and that’s how I realized I NEED friends.” As Twilight finished explaining her answer, she noticed Sunset wasn’t looking at her. Though she knew Sunset listened, she saw that Sunset was thinking of something deep. “Wait... Is it THAT deep?” Then Sunset briefly looked at Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack talking about random things. Laughs came from them and they didn’t look her way. Deciding something for herself, Sunset stands up first from the table. “I’m sorry, but I gotta go. I don’t feel hungry right now.” “Huh? Hey, wait-!” But Twilight didn’t finish as Sunset was already leaving. Applejack noticed it herself and scratched her head before looking at Twilight. “Sometimes it takes time before she gets her head straight. Don’t worry, she’ll come ‘round.” Twilight sighs hearing Applejack’s statement. “I hope you’re right.” As Sunset herself left through the double-doors of the cafeteria into a school hallway, she figured she’d keep walking to distract herself, only to stop in surprise. Another girl who appeared exactly like Twilight was in front of her, wearing a completely different set of casual clothes. And then there’s a dog who was purple in fur color right beside this Twilight. At that, Sunset smiled and walked right up to her. “Princess Twilight!” Eventually, the Princess approached Sunset and both of them hugged each other, both feeling glad. It’s been a while since Princess Twilight had visited, and that was quite the time for her to arrive. When Sunset pulled away from the hug, she winced. “Hold up… You didn’t tell me you were coming.” “I wanted it to be a surprise,” replied Princess Twilight. “Besides, I kinda know on your letters to me that even if you’re tight with our friends, there’s bound to be some rocky things coming up.” “You know… You missed a lot ever since. Winning a video competition… Actually watching the video… Then there’s that time when we were camping and we-” Twilight only chuckled. “You can tell me things I don’t know of yet. Relax. I’m caught up.” Sunset chuckled back but the smile she’s putting up is lessening each second. Sighing, she decided to pull Princess Twilight with her as she walked. “I gotta talk to you about something. There’s a lot of time before the next class. I just wanna make sure I don’t miss this.” “O-okay?” Twilight could only agree with what Sunset is planning, whatever it is. 1235 hours… Sunset’s dorm room isn’t so big, but it at least has a few books at a shelf near a desk with a lamp on it and a lot of pencils. Then there were scrapbooks and journals. And just under the bed, Twilight could see that Sunset’s magical book for sending messages between her and that book back in Equestria was easily seen. At this, Twilight gave Sunset a brief advice to try putting that book at a better place. Eventually, Sunset sat down on the bed and Twilight sat beside her. “I have to apologize,” Sunset first said. “Just before I go on… How long since you and this world’s Twilight talked?” “Actually almost never.” Twilight answered this with a smile, even if Sunset doesn’t feel like it. Now Twilight just didn’t want to force it and kept her emotions neutral. “Wanna tell me what this is about?” “Well… It’s actually from this morning.” Sunset said this, looking at Twilight’s eyes straight. “I was just about to pass on some cupcakes I bought supposedly for snacks. I thought I’d do that for Pinkie Pie since the school stuff is getting a little more continuous for her recently.” FLASHBACK… 0928 hours... As Sunset herself was carrying a box of brown banana-cupcakes and go through the back of the school as a shortcut to her room, she had to stop since her phone was ringing. She looked somewhere else before holding the box with one hand and getting her smart phone with the other. It was Pinkie Pie texting a question of where the cupcakes are. She puts the phone away, knowing she’s about to arrive anyway. But when she turned to the door she was supposed to go into, the moment she spun to the direction she wanted, she walked and bumped into someone since it was so fast. For a split second, her fingers touched someone’s hand just before she was knocked to sitting down on the school walkway, even dropping the box of cupcakes without spilling its contents. Looking up, she saw a man wearing a black suit, just before her eyes flashed white. Sunset – For a brief moment, I was seeing memories of this man... And he was talking to Princess Celestia about something. Twilight – About what? Sunset – About plans regarding what to do if word of us using magic gets out to the world or to the city. Twilight – Wait... What? What’s wrong with that? Sunset – You don’t know how it’ll be a problem at first glance. As Sunset’s vision stopped, her eyes turned back to normal and she panted. She looked at the man with some fear and even crawled back. Then as Charlie noticed the girl’s look and appearance, he could tell who she is. “Hm.” He only quietly breathed to observe her. He decided a moment later he should speak up. “I was wondering how it actually works. Ever since visions come and go from psychics, I would think it’s something else but magic. Heh.” He shrugged before going on. “Of course yours is.” Sunset felt a little violated that he’d know what her power is. But she felt suspicious, even with the memories she now has. “How do I know you won’t use that to your advantage?” Charlie answers. “Well, I’m quite good in keeping things strictly as they are. I’m like someone in logistics who passes down information only that’s-” “That’s doubly sure if you’re from the government,” Sunset interrupted, glaring at him before she stood up. “You were here talking to Principal Celestia... There’s no doubt it’s about us, and how what comes as normal in Canterlot, isn’t really going out to the rest of the city, or the world.” For that, Charlie didn’t know how else he would react. Eventually, he gives up his false facade and chuckles. “Really impressive, Sunset Shimmer. No doubt you’re a great person of interest.” “You’re more of a stalker Agent Darwin. Nice to meet you too,” Sunset answered with a glare that stayed at him while she picked up her box of cupcakes, which she briefly found out was still in good shape. Charlie’s earpiece worn on his ear was transmitting Chadwick’s voice. “Charlie? What’s happening? I heard the name of a subject pop up! Are you talking to her?!” But Charlie didn’t want to answer yet seeing as Sunset was onto him. Then when he decided to answer, he takes a different stance. “You know what? Yeah. I talked to her because she felt like sharing. Never mind. She knows who I am anyway. So I shared... just without my permission.” Sunset observes Charlie and notices he has an earpiece. She then waits, knowing he’s busy talking to his companion. Snorting, Charlie becomes impatient. “You’re just gonna have to deal with it. We’re not crusaders for the Agency. We tell what we both know, well... even if she knew what was in my head from moments ago.” But Sunset chuckled. She pointed at her head. “Not just from moments ago.” As soon as she said that, Charlie seemed to feel uneasy. He knew he had to go with it. Sunset – I played him like a fiddle, but he knew taking me back with him at the SUV he parked near the school was wise. Chadwick, his partner, didn’t like it. As soon as everyone was in the SUV, Chadwick was clutching his hair with his hands. “ARE YOU CRAZY?!!!” “HEY!” Charlie demanded. “Calm the hell down, would ya? If this was gonna really happen, I’d really be a sitting duck, but I’m not.” He then glared at her who was at the back seats. “You just pulled sensitive information out of my head and into yours, young lady. Maybe it’s best you start to forget them.” Sunset made a smug face as she answered. “Maybe.” Her box of cupcakes was right beside her as she was making sure her hands were free. “It feels wrong trying to spy on us even of what we’ve done.” “My teams and I only knew about you when the Dazzlings have eventually disappeared after that Battle of the Bands gig your school put up months back. Celestia was trying to ask a big favor by keeping the information about the first six under wraps and protected. You see-” Sunset spoke first, knowing Charlie wasn’t finished. “She got you out of a legal problem when you were falsely accused of fraud. You were able to make it on your own with good advice from Celestia to fight for the truth. But being the agent you are, you can find your way around.” Charlie chuckled at that. “Okay, okay. I admit you know a little more than usual. You’re not surprised of me knowing. I get it.” “Good. Because I want to hear it from your mouth as to why you’re taking your time watching us too!!” Sunset demanded this loudly from him. End of Flashback... Sunset scratched her head as she looked down while telling the story. “And like that, he told me what I needed to know. Apparently... He’s the contact Principal Celestia and Luna has when it comes to cover-up stories. Celestia and Luna give out information about notable people in Canterlot City, provided he’d also spin out information regarding to events of what happened from the beginning of when Equestrian magic arrived... through me. That much given, he’s protecting our reputation as both students... a magic-wielders.” Twilight was wide-eyed that she didn’t know what to reply. She took several seconds to think about it and process it. Then she asked. “What was the catch? Spinning out information for a front sounds like a hard job.” “Exactly. Then I asked what his real purpose was.” Sunset answered this, continuing her story. FLASHBACK... 0939 hours... Charlie groaned, being asked that question from Sunset. “Look... You already saw my memories. Why make me answer?” Sunset looked away, then back at him. “I guess it’s a force of habit being a good judge of character, and I know how to tell a lie from truth.” “Look... the Agency also had resources to study strange phenomena that were very notable because of its frequency. And your type of phenomena is largely frequent, especially since the Camp Everfree incident. My division is assigned to contain the situation. If this gets out to the public, of course it will incite chaos and people will be looking for answers.” Charlie explains this, and sees Sunset realize something with her eyes coming wide-eyed. The teenager then saw his meaning. “So that’s why you’re worried about Mayor Warren...” “Yeah. Unprecedentedly, she was looking into all of those events. Maybe if you didn’t see from my memories... She took a lot of photos related to you, and this other friend you got named Twilight Sparkle.” “Oh...! Ah!! I remember that part.” Sunset put her fingers on her head to try and not getting a headache. “Now that I’m really scanning my head and hearing you say it, I think I could stop being too assertive. Look… I’m sorry. I just needed insurance. Ow… this hurts a little…” Charlie then looked at Chadwick, who seemed bitter. “What the hell now?” Chadwick looked away before replying. “This was always your call, Charlie. She knows what and who we are and she’ll be telling someone-” Sunset groaned to stop Chadwick from speaking. “And you’re being too shallow on what you think you know about me, Chadwick. I might not completely know you, but HE does. You think you’re so protective of your identity that you don’t even think I wouldn’t blow it. Clearly, you don’t like to trust me that you’d keep this all quiet rather than letting this go and-” “HEY, GIRLIE!” Chadwick replies harshly glaring at her. “I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GETTING AT, BUT I’M NOT TAKING THAT CHANCE WITH WHAT YOU KNOW!” And after he spoke at that tone, a strong hand grabs his suit collar before his face was drawn near to a clearly upset Charlie. “W-What are you-?” Charlie interrupts Chadwick. “You’re not doing anything because I won’t let you. Look, she’s going to cooperate, and clearly she understands the gravity of the situation she’s in.” “Tch. And you’re just too blind to see she’s playing you!” “You’re not seeing it, Chadwick! Blind as I may be, cooperative or not, she can’t escape what comes next. It’ll be worse if Warren puts an open claim on all seven of them!” Charlie then lets go and gently pushes Chadwick back to his seat before looking at Sunset who was surprised. He held a pause unsure of what he’s going to say, but he decided on it. “Sunset... I’m going back tomorrow to speak to Celestia, and you. And eventually, we’ll tell all your friends.” On Charlie’s plan though it follows Celestia’s, Sunset figured she’d rather want to settle this within the day. Putting her arms over the other just to think, she knows the obvious reason is to prepare her friends for the worst that could happen if not careful. “I’ll put in a good word for you.” Sunset said this, making him surprised himself. “Rather than waiting for another day, the others have got to know this... sooner than you think. I’ll talk to Principal Celestia and tell her to speed up the plan.” This was something Charlie could speed up, since awareness is the only thing he wants to share. He thought about it for a moment before getting back to Sunset. “Deal. 5 in the afternoon. I’m sure you’re all free.” “By the way… I know I could just tell someone about you and your partner are spies… But maybe I’m not so sure. With what I saw in your memories… It’s so dark. I should apologize for that. It’s not always my place to see another’s memories when I don’t want to.” Charlie briefly looked Chadwick, who shook his head not knowing what to say. Then Charlie looks back at Sunset for the reply. “Hang in there. You probably saw things you were never meant to see.” Sunset sighs, seeing he’s right. End of Flashback… Sunset sighs after finishing her last statement about what she proposed to Charlie. “I agreed on that and I’m gonna talk to Principal Celestia and Luna. If there’s one thing I don’t want, it’s unnecessary attention.” The princess herself had been listening attentively and felt as if Sunset really grew up from being selfish. A lot has changed. Now she’s imagining Sunset is handling the bigger issues that concern the identity of the seven in Earth. Twilight made her remark. “I think you’ll do just fine with what you’re gonna tell Principal Celestia.” With that said, Sunset smiled after a long while of being unsure of what she felt. “Thanks, for what it’s worth. Still… I don’t think I’d wanna forget what I saw from his head.” Twilight chuckles. “I only have little things at a time I wanna forget to relieve myself from the pressure. But as princess? No. I’d rather want to face problems head on no matter how stressful they are, and have help ready in case they’re quite heavy.” “Good thing you know better how to manage.” As Twilight was about to reply, she winced as she saw herself at the door, appearing to be wearing glasses and another set of casual clothes. This made her stand from her seat at the dorm bed, seeing as the Twilight of this Earth was once again surprised to see the Princess. Sunset stood up herself to see who from the two Twilights speak first. And it was Human Twilight who reacts first, raising her hand to wave and grin at the Princess. “Hi there… Princess.” Princess Twilight smirked at her human self. “When was the last time you felt that way? I think after the Friendship games. Anyway… I don’t mind.” Her smirk turned into a smile, a welcoming smile to make her human self comfortable. And the Human Twilight’s grin faded while she put her hand down. “Sorry. I just felt weird after seeing my double was a princess. I saw you a few times with Sunset and I know you two are tight, even after she stole your crown.” Princess Twilight nods. “She changed a lot since then and you’re a testimony to it. She turned you around too. Don’t forget.” After hearing the Princess give that advice, the Human Twilight seemed to be more comfy. Sunset figured the two needed privacy. “I’ll leave you two to catch up, see if I could get that talk going.” She said that before saying her farewells before leaving the dorm room with the two Twilights. She could only figure needed each other’s clarity. After all, Princess Twilight didn’t speak much about herself to her human counterpart. 1316 hours… Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna had been attentively listening to Sunset about the proposed accelerated plan as an act of extra awareness. Now that Sunset knew about what she and Charlie talked about, there wasn’t any need to hold back on what she knows. It could help her friends understand how things are and how everyone should be careful. It took a few minutes, but Celestia was making her reply after Sunset spoke. “At least you know him better and he seems to be sincere in helping out. I convinced him to be a close guardian in case things do turn out the way he predicts.” Luna however felt concerned. “Well, we DID put ourselves in that position to secure the identities of Sunset and the others, dear sister.” Sunset sighs, knowing something else. “After the Friendship games though? He feels as if he shouldn’t cover up for Crystal Prep Academy, and is thinking of letting that matter go.” Luna replies. “He should. I don’t think Crystal Prep would be a big worry. Cinch isn’t the type to completely blow on us with her reputation on the line. But she COULD be the type who could tell it to a politician as an under-handed tactic. I’ll talk to Dean Cadence to get her thought on that.” Celestia however found it unsettling that Luna thinks Cinch is capable to be under-handed. “And you would dare go to that line in thinking Principal Cinch is under-handed?” “I’m just trying to watch our backs,” Luna replies before looking at Sunset. “It seems with this matter, Celestia and I will make the arrangements for later. Tell your friends. This matter about your identities needs to be discussed.” Sunset nods. “Understood.”
Setting awareness (Part 2)1636 hours… Canterlot High School students were either leaving school or just roaming around the school at the end of the day. Most of the students however were still baffled by one thing in their lives: Seeing two of Twilight. The two Twilights had a lot of looks from students and a lot of mutters. They’re somehow openly baffled by two of them existing there. A few of them even attempted to ask what it’s about, but Princess Twilight told them to be considerate, since most already know she’s a princess. Arriving at the front courtyard statue with not so many students there, Princess Twilight hugged her human counterpart. “It’s nice being here with our friends. It’s been a while since I spent some time with them.” Human Twilight adjusted her glasses while she smiled and gently pulled away from the hug. “Hey… You’re always welcome here, Princess. It’s just…” She hesitate for a little, even expecting her princess counterpart to reply. Cutting it short, she had to continue. “You know what I noticed especially when you were talking to Applejack and Rarity? You were really getting into their heart straight since… I’ve been very much into Friendship Magic after what happened at Camp Everfree and I’ve been getting better at how I handle mine. But I only serve as someone at the sidelines, and not material. And you are-” “Whoa whoa whoa…” Princess Twilight responds to interrupt. “Twilight, of course there’s a difference between both of us. I’m… a little more experienced with it ever since, knowing I’ve been leading my friends through rough situations back at Equestria. They even see me as a leader, and the princesses in the world declare the same. You might not be the same as I am, but you belong to a circle of friends. And you might not be the leader, but you are just as important. I don’t completely stress that I’m superior. I’m just one of the cogs that work in the clock gears if you get what I mean.” Listening to her princess counterpart, Twilight turns her head away. “A big cog,” she mutters. “Hm…” Princess Twilight raises an eyebrow while narrowing her eyes to try making a point. “Twi, you should know that, and it’s been a long while now. Friendship works that way, and it doesn’t stress a condition that someone is much stronger than the other. Sunset Shimmer leads the circle you’re in, deserving as the leader since she’s able to more than understand the meaning of Friendship. But it doesn’t make her more superior. Me being a princess doesn’t really change anything.” Finally understand what the princess was saying, Twilight nods. “Thanks a lot, Princess. I’ll make sure to keep the circle strong. I guess with seven of us, we’re stronger together.” “You’ll be tested. There’s no doubt about it,” Princess Twilight said. “You remember you told me something before about your dark self?” “Yeah. Midnight Sparkle.” “There’s always a sense of darkness inside each of you, and it’s only at the worst times that it comes out. I’m recommending you don’t use that side of you to solve problems. Otherwise, you’ll be hurting what you already built. You built that strong relationship because of interdependency. And I did the same. So if the worst comes… realize you’re not alone.” Princess Twilight then puts her hand on the other girl’s shoulder. “One thing I’m sure is… You’re close to Sunset because she helped you with the problems she had before, that I was able to somehow help her with just by acts of good deeds. You can do your part by doing the same thing. We might be different… But I feel that we’re connected.” As Human Twilight smiled, she noticed her other friends including Sunset were coming at their direction. The blonde-haired Applejack called out first while she waved. “Hey ya there! Y’all thought we wouldn’t see ya leave without one more goodbye?” The purple-haired Rarity spoke next. “Princess, thank you very much for coming! Somehow, the visit was quite worth it.” “Totally worth it!” happily shrieked the pink puffy-haired Pinkie Pie who satirically jumped to spook Rarity a little. “I could have gone and puffed out sparkles to liven the mood! Sorry if class took a little too long.” Sunset was closer to the two Twilights. “Princess Twilight, we wish you very well from here back to Equestria. Thanks for talking to your counterpart. Twilight’s confident ever since she’s gained her powers and control it.” Princess Twilight nods and smiles. “I’m glad all of you were to finally get your magic. Just use it wisely, even if it’s so much. I want you all to be safe. And though it might be less exciting around here-” She stops her speech the moment she realized she said it was less exciting. It wasn’t exciting, but in fact dangerous, but it doesn’t mean the seven in Earth can’t handle that danger. “Never mind,” Princess Twilight said. “I’m confident in what you girls can do.” She then looks at her human counterpart. “Especially you, Twilight.” After saying that, Human Twilight adjusted her glasses not sure of what she feels. After saying her goodbyes, she goes through the statue on the front courtyard, letting the fluid portal close as she crossed. Eventually, the group of seven is now heading to the gym together. At this time, Rarity had something in mind. “Hm… Sunset, you told us that the discussion would be about our identities, right? We’re seeing Principal Celestia and Luna for this?” “Yeah, they set this up,” Sunset replied. “Just that there’s a plus one.” “A- a plus one?” replied Fluttershy who’s less of a speaker for the day, having a semi-whispering voice. She had a little flower on her pink hair that for some reason she’s maintaining. She continued to speak up. “Who could their guest be?” Sunset sighs. “Not a guest. He’s… He has a good reason to be here… around us…” She softens her voice at each of the few words he says. “…such a good eye… such a stalker…” Fluttershy could even hear Sunset’s voice and was still clear even as the sound fades. This made her think Sunset was thinking of something deep. Meanwhile in the indoor gymnasium, Charlie was pacing back and forth near one side of the seat rows while Celestia and Luna were seated on the front-most near him. Luna was looking at Charlie pace back and forth until she finally had enough. “Charlie, you have got to calm yourself!” Charlie briefly groaned and looked at Luna. “What? You’re serious about this right now? The moment I allowed myself to be out here instead of being remotely here, I’ve already gotten my position compromised. I’m not usually out here in the open, especially when I’m too close to the subjects the Mayor’s actually observing! Heck, there’s no doubt she knows the Agency is in play because of this just because I’m here!!” “I understand your debacle, but is that what you’re concerned of more than just the reputation and safety of our students? You are an abiding citizen of this country and you’re expected to protect your fellow countrymen… and women!” Luna’s statement sounded a little weird after making that late addition, making Celestia look at her briefly. “You two could have handled this fine with Sunset-” “We talked about this” replied Celestia then, “and we agreed that you’re a guardian to all seven of them in the case that Mayor Warren would come too close in asserting her authority. I’ve seen what she could do with how she influences everyone in Canterlot City. At some times, she could make others submissive without them even touching her, not even giving those people a choice. This makes me suspicious of her behavior. That’s why I wanted you to be there to prevent her from doing anything worse than how she’d appear to do.” Charlie groans quietly and mutters to himself. “It’s a plan, but I don’t like it…” The group of seven girls was already outside the double doors of the indoor gym before it was opened. Twilight was up in front of the group that time when she went in front to see if there was anyone in the gym. She was a little confused of something just before she looked beside her, only to see that she’s alone. Her friends weren’t there. There wasn’t anyone in the gym, and it would seem she came alone in the gym. Twilight looks around and adjusted her glasses, being alert as she would always be. Then as she blinked the next time, she found herself not in the gymnasium but sitting on a wooden chair, while it stood on an invisible floor in a room where the stars of the universe exist and all colors relating to the aura of life were seen as something magical. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing and she even stood up to look at what she was missing. She even reached out to touch what seemed to be sprinkles of pink powder, and even felt the warmth of yellow rays that made her think of kindness. Suddenly putting her hands near her chest, Twilight felt a familiar presence, something cold, numbing, but gently soothing to herself. She felt arms wrap around her head from behind and hands holding her arms softly. She recognized to purple arm braces that she once wore at a time she had lost herself… a time when at the Friendship games, releasing a bad combination of magic led her to be consumed by what she let go, to turn her into a monster. All this time, the one behind Twilight holding her softly was… “Midnight Sparkle.” She muttered this name, and the figure behind her smiled. Midnight put her mouth near Twilight’s ear to whisper. “Nice to see you too, Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight holds Midnight’s hands with her own but never dared to look behind her, eventually feeling annoyed. “I always felt you didn’t go away… Even when I’m completely free from your control thanks to the geodes we found.” “And you and your friends completely annihilated me just for the sake of your friendship. I think it’s cheap, Twilight. Because it’s missing a lot. Me.” Midnight’s words forced Twilight to suddenly keep Midnight’s hands apart to let her go. But as Twilight stepped forward to move away, Midnight appeared right in front of her glaring. “ADMIT IT, Twilight. Deep down, you need me. I no longer control you, but you can control what essence I have left in you. You’re incomplete without me.” “There’s always been a catch, Midnight!!” Twilight hissed by speaking loudly in her reply. “I’m not falling for it again. Cinch led me to believe I could use the magic I stole back at CHS, only for me to turn into a monster!!! I’m not doing that again!” “Tch. Typical Twilight, proud of just changing herself and not looking at the fact that the littlest things that you didn’t completely remove from me was your curiosity. I was always high in it and I was always a part of you. Magic is something more complex than how you know it, and you’ve seen Equestria through your eyes because of it. You never even went to Equestria in the first place, but you finally got what you needed.” “I, no… YOU DAMAGED THE WORLD WHILE YOU LED ME IN MY FORM!!! It’s…” Twilight refused to say more while she felt her eyes were wet in her tears. Midnight even felt Twilight’s emotions partially while a single tear left through her left eye. But she glared right at Twilight before she suddenly flies insane fast to leave a purple trail behind her and gripped her hand on Twilight’s shirt collar before lifting both of them up with her wings, making them hover as she held Twilight. “Your power is changing thanks to the geodes you found and kept one for yourself. Indeed, the magic flowing from the geode influences you what you can do with it. But did you know your own body is becoming one with the geode?” “What-? You mean… it’s infusing itself? I checked it and it looked unchanged to me.” “Well… while we’re here, it’s being inserted into your body. You used a necklace to keep it hanging below your neck. You don’t know that the geode is being sucked into your body. This is why I was able to speak to you for much longer.” Midnight chuckled, nearing her face to Twilight’s. “You’re changing, Twilight. But it doesn’t mean it will be just you. In the later future, your friends will start following suit.” “No…! I’m not listening to you! I WILL NEVER LISTEN TO YOU!! YOU ARE GOING TO TEAR US APART!!!” “You’re very wrong, Twilight. I’m ensuring our survival through what I tell you now! Even if you leave now, you’d know that you no longer have your geode. It’s now inside you.” Midnight said these words and Twilight is starting to struggle. “Don’t fight your own power, as it’s crazy enough. Believe in both sides of it, darkness and light. It’s how we’ll both survive.” “NO!!” Twilight screamed at Midnight, showing rage in her heart and letting a small purple light glow from her chest. “I never want you to be with me… NEVER AGAIN! I’d rather tear you open than be with you! I don’t want you to break our friendship!!” Midnight snorted in annoyance with what Twilight demanded. “If I wished the same thing, it cuts both ways. Be careful what you wish for, Nerdy.” She then unhands Twilight, before seeing her scream and fall to the endless space of stars below. “I’ll see you around, Twilight. We’ll be friends for a long time.” “MIDNIGHT!!!” Twilight screams in fear calling her dark counterpart, trying to reach with her hands only to feel herself falling. Then Twilight heard voices, coming from Sunset, and eventually Rainbow Dash, and then from Fluttershy. Soon, Rarity’s, Applejack’s and Pinkie Pie’s voice followed, before Twilight’s reality returned. Sunset was shocked as Twilight herself was on her knees panting hard feeling the gymnasium’s polished floor with her hands. She called Twilight for many times, but Twilight only heard a blur on the sounds just before it’s slowly becoming clear. “Twilight… Twilight!! Are you okay?! What happened to you-?” Sunset gasped at what she saw next. Twilight was holding what could have been the necklace Twilight owns, with the crystal geode on it, but it was no longer there. The necklace was cut from the places where the geode is supposedly wrapped from. “Where’s yours?!” Sunset got on her knees to snap Twilight out of it. She made Twilight lean back until her back was straight and her head was leveled with her own before gently slapping Twilight’s face with her hand. “Look at me!” Twilight was well awake when she was gently slapped and suddenly glared at Sunset. “Leave me alone,” she muttered loudly. She put a light purple aura around Sunset before pushing her friend to her back. The other girls gasped at this just as she lets go of Sunset and gets on her feet before running for the door and quickly getting out of sight. But Sunset couldn’t have it and got on her feet before coming after her friend. “TWILIGHT!!! WAIT!” Sunset left through the gym’s double doors. Even Celestia, Luna, and Charlie were shocked of this. Charlie however was more collected on this. Rarity felt sympathetic and attempted to go after the other two, but Applejack stopped her. “Applejack-?” “Let her go,” Applejack said. “What happened to Sunset? I think it wasn’t an accident.” “How so?” “I saw Twilight’s eyes, Rarity. Dunno about y’all, but they were normal as it should have been. Twilight’s been feelin’ real, and she’s serious about what she’s doing with her magic. That? It isn’t a common shove. Y’all see what happened when she used it? There’s little shape of a horn on her head and it disappeared when she stopped holdin’ Sunset.” “Darn,” Rainbow Dash said while she scratched her head. “Looks like we gotta be careful. I know who makes that kind of tone.” Applejack listened attentively and got what Rainbow meant. “Thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?” “Yeah.” And both Applejack and Rainbow Dash said it at the same time: “Midnight Sparkle.” Charlie was able to read lips as a part of her Agency training even if the sounds weren’t necessary and he heard that name again. Shaking his head, he decides to take a seat beside Luna, while Celestia was comforting the other five girls who were left behind in the gym. “Who’s Midnight Sparkle?” he asked Luna. Luna narrowed her eyes looking at Charlie. “From Twilight’s perspective, it’s a result of a combination of magic that led her to act like a tyrant during the Friendship games. If I’m right, the power she had amplified Twilight’s dark desires to know more about the other world. You should be careful what you ask for, Agent.” Charlie shrugged. “No need to be concerned, Vice Principal. I dared anyway.” Just outside the gym, Sunset and Twilight were talking. “I’m telling you, that it will change me,” Twilight said before throwing the incomplete necklace on the floor for Sunset to see. “There. Proof that my geode is no longer with me. And…” Twilight lets her shirt collar down so that one side of her neck can be seen just before some magic acted and let some sort of mark appear on her neck. It was a group of stars as the biggest one that is light purple-pinkish in color was unique from the rest, small and white. With magic again, she lets it subside and disappear. Sunset’s shock was calming down, but even she wants to believe it. “I… I don’t know what to say.” “You don’t need to say anything, Sunset. Now may not be the time to talk about this. I CAN tell you however…” As Twilight paused in her speech, magic worked through her that a shape of a horn seen through her magical aura appeared before she herself used her magic, and Sunset was being surrounded by the same aura before being lifted up a few feet off the floor. “I could use magic with no difficulty.” “You’re amazing… Not even lifting a finger on this too… And you said it’s just… easy?” “I didn’t say it was easy,” replied Twilight who was eventually lowering her friend to the floor and letting go of her magic with it, letting her horn fade out. “I said I could do it with no difficulty, seeing as it had a cost in what I am.” “What you are-? Wait a minute.” Sunset approached Twilight hoping to see her memories for herself. Twilight welcomes Sunset’s plan and reaches her hand. “See for yourself.” Sunset knew with Twilight’s invitation that something really happened with her friend. Holding Twilight’s hand, Sunset had a vision. To her, it took a minute. In reality, it was only a few seconds. And with the vision finished, Sunset stepped back and shook her head before feeling fear creep in. “W-What…? Impossible…!” Twilight was looking down. “I wasn’t sure of how to tell you about Midnight Sparkle, Sunset.” Then she looked back up. “But one thing can’t be changed. I was once the monster you saw… curious, and proud of what I find. I even attempted to find access to Equestria.” “But that was Midnight Sparkle!! That isn’t you!!!” “Tch. Sunset, maybe you don’t know about it before, but instead of feeling that I’m proud of you having powers, I should be envious I was never in your place as a leader.” Twilight said this making Sunset glare at her. Twilight answered to shoot back at Sunset’s gesture. “What’s wrong, Sunset? Can’t face the truth I envy you now?” “Where the heck is this coming from?!!” “It’s coming from me!” Twilight glared as she replied before turning her back on her friend, looking over her shoulder. “Maybe you’ll understand what I feel when your own geodes decide to fuse with you. Your own darkness would show up first.” “No… That can’t happen!” “It’s already happened to me! And soon… to you too.” Twilight said her last words before walking away. “See me later after what you talked about. I’m tired.” Sunset sighed and frowned as she saw Twilight walk away… Then she heard the sound of thunder from afar, even as she was inside the school. The clouds were dark in the sky, and the atmosphere around Sunset’s circle was one with a bad mood…
Setting awareness (Part 3)1656 hours… Sunset – I had a feeling after Twilight walked out on me that things would be quite different between me and her. She actually feels envious of what I am? A leader? Someone who knows friendship deeper than the rest of us? I suppose that’s I could describe myself since I acknowledge it. But to cause it to have someone envy at what I am? Twilight and I have been quite tight ever since I helped her overcome Midnight Sparkle at Camp Everfree. I even made sure our memories were protected from Wallflower Blush from her plans in removing our memories of each other… Then again, I already had an idea why. Twilight was talking to her princess counterpart. And one motivation for my Twilight to envy what I am, maybe would be related to being… NOT a princess. Or did that feeling start back when she joined the gang? I wasn’t sure. That time, Sunset was seated beside her friends, just without Twilight Sparkle around this time. The gymnasium was empty, but only herself and the other five friends are there, together with Principal Celestia, Vice Principal Luna, and Agent Charlie Darwin. Charlie was in front of the girls. But before he could speak up, he could see AppleJack stare at him. That got his attention. “I wouldn’t want to make a rough guess, but I think you’re told about being spied on.” AppleJack was told earlier by Sunset Shimmer about AppleJack being part of those observed by the Agency. And this pissed her off. “Ever had a very big eye look at ya, and you still can’t notice you’re being watched? And all of the sudden, the eye actually appears in front of ya. You know what I feel when I find out it’s the same exact eye that stalked me? I’d feel like ripping it apart in half. Maybe you already know that I could rip bones like they’re paper.” She glared at him after saying it. Charlie only looked at AppleJack, not daring to answer her. Then he looked at the other girls, surprised of what she said. He sighed, before speaking up. “Noted. So… Anyone else wanna express their hard comment on-” “My piece of my mind,” Rarity started speaking while glaring at him, then said further “…CAN BE COMPRESSED TO TWO WORDS!!! TWO…! WORDS!!!” Fluttershy knew what would happen and even stopped Rarity from standing up and covered her friend’s mouth. Rarity was only mumbling while the mouth was covered, but Fluttershy spoke up for her in a calm and kind way. “Agent Darwin? S-She’s… She found it very inappropriate for you having spied on her. I actually feel the same. But I don’t feel upset. I just feel somehow embarrassed.” Rarity stopped mumbling and her mouth was no longer covered by Fluttershy’s hands. Then she took this opportunity to shout “SCREW YOU!!!! SCREW…! YOU!!” Afterwards, her cheek was slapped. And that hand surprisingly came from Fluttershy, who saw Rarity calm down and hold her own cheek to feel the sting of the slap. “I’m sorry, Rarity. But you need to get yourself together.” Rarity took it to her heart and quietly sobbed, putting her head on Fluttershy’s shoulder and continued there… Rainbow Dash on the other hand was quite patient. After having been told that she was watched by the Agency, she’d been pretty decent with her comment. “I wanna say it’s fine as long as it’s protection. Kinda feels like I’m stalked, but hey. At least I get to be awesome!” Charlie chuckled at that. “Careful. Maybe you could have been assisted by anyone who wants to make you an athlete.” “Oh come on! I’d know who’s a faker for a friend at any day! But to make it look like you’re making me awesome? You got my thanks!” And Dash grinned at it. Pinkie Pie raised a finger to get Charlie’s attention, but quickly put it down before speaking up with a high-pitched natural voice. “You know the story about the clown watching from the dark? What if he suddenly shows up while he was beside me? I’ll check if he’s smiling and I should smile back too!” And Charlie scratched his head. He didn’t completely get her terminology but there’s some logic to what she said. “It sounds like you wanna forgive anyone looking at ya.” “I’m just silly old me. Really! I’m all about the fun, and making friends should be fun! And that clown was sorry back then! I know you were apologizing too!” After Pinkie Pie said it, she added, “You’re welcome!” This just made him groan quietly in reply. Charlie raised an eyebrow before he approached sunset and handed over the folder he once showed Princess Celestia. Once Sunset has it on hand, she opens it, and the photos are seen. She herself wasn’t happy there were photos of herself in them and Twilight as well. And when it was passed to the others, they exchanged quiet gasps. They even saw pictures of magic rays and that notable tree bark dome back at Camp Everfree. Applejack was the first to react to the photos. “What in tarnations-? Did you all take these photos?” “Nope,” Charlie replied. “Thing is, the Agency wasn’t gathering photos, but all of them are sharply high-quality. Our purpose was to gather information about who took those photos and how we protect your identities. The one who took those pictures have access to good equipment, and have good angling techniques. What’s more is, some of the shots are directly overhead, so he must have used a drone on some of them too.” Rarity was patient to let Charlie finish before she spoke up. “Who took these photos in the first place?” Sunset was the one to answer that question. “I promised to keep this a secret… until now. You all won’t like it. The photos came straight from a Private Investigator who was operating in Canterlot City, and was recently even reporting outside the city just to follow us. Agent Darwin’s fact-finding got him to believe at first that the P.I. was certified to be working under Mayor Warren’s flag.” The other girls gasped in surprise, not wanted to believe it immediately, but slowly processed it. “Uh-oh.” AppleJack muttered to her. “The mayor?” “W-What-? Mayor Lisa Warren?” Rarity spoke, not believing the answer. “B-b-but she even liked Canterlot High School’s official sports showcase!” Then of course, that’s how we all imagined Rarity who was a fashion organizer for three days with Mayor Warren once a technicality judge. Rarity was given a least-than-fair amount of spotlight. It at least made her smile. That’s what’s important. She’s happy in what she does. Then Rarity continued. “I don’t want to her to turn into a criminal!!!” Charlie shrugged before replying. “Well, we never found anything on her that implicates a crime, so she’s clean. Very clean. It’s even proven she was a delegate on religious studies that she even represented her whole hometown years ago. At least that’s how smart she was.” Rainbow Dash was pissed when she herself spoke up. “That is so not cool… NOT cool! She’s managing a city and she suddenly comes up and takes pictures of Sunset and Twilight? Major stalker with every laser show that happens around here! I bet that’s how she liked to see more!” Rarity nods. “I agree.” “Ooh, ooh!!” Pinkie Pie raised her hand and stood up. “Maybe she’s just doing that to protect Canterlot City against us.” Then she noticed others glared at her. She realized that it only makes her comment a pessimistic one for them. She chuckled uneasily. “Oh.” Sunset repies on Pinkie’s statement. “You know that could spell for disaster if she knows more if we’re not careful. That means… that could cost us our powers. And we still don’t know if there’s anything else we missed on Equestrian magic.” Charlie groans. “Time’s not always a friend. This is the problem these days. Politics just gets things moving and the world just agrees because every policy in a specific location follows. Citizens have to be obliged to take on the responsibilities embedded on those policies. But if those policies go against your moral ethics, it could spell out small problems that could build to a bigger one. That’s how society works.” Applejack seemed interested and smiled at Charlie’s info. “I’m impressed. You know much more how the world works. You should be a teacher on these things. Social Studies maybe?” “Me? Teacher? Nah. Just about that information… Take it from someone who travelled to different places seeing those things. But not all types of politics are good. They usually slow down processes too. I don’t care if it’s all about legitimacy and- Hmph. That’s why I try to stay away from every bureaucrat I find and only communicate when it comes to safety and instruction.” After Charlie said it, Applejack nodded seeing she understood. Sunset sighs and stands up to get in front of her friends and get their attention. “Fact of the matter is, we’re dealing with a politician here who’s already onto us. And it’ll only be a matter of time until she makes her move… either publicly or using something else to discredit us, or the school. Remember that the thing from the Friendship games could also endanger us since Principal Cinch knows and she could tell about all the events that happened in secret.” “So what?!” Rainbow Dash responded harshly. “Seriously, we’ve been all about doing the good stuff together! And we even saved the school four times already!” “Five if you count that thing when it came to Wallflower Blush. That last one ended quite well.” Sunset said it additionally from Rainbow Dash before she spoke more. “But now we got someone who could fear magic. Remember… Not everyone knows what Equestrian Magic is, or what it does, or how it’ll serve just as anyone, because it normally doesn’t get used here. With that, I’m gonna urge everyone to be careful at this point. We don’t know what any of them would think of us if they knew Equestrian Magic exists. Only our school and its students have a good idea. I hope that’s an understanding we all have after this.” 1720 hours… Meeting’s finally adjourned after that, and I split from my friends to talk a little more to Charlie, Principal Celestia, and Vice Principal Luna on the steps we need to take. It took a few minutes, but we were able to get some things straight. I was left with Charlie while walking him out of the school… “So…” Sunset started. “What happens tomorrow?” Charlie wasn’t looking directly at Sunset since he’s professionally inclined not to when he replied. “Whatever happens the next day is up to you, but you should follow your own advice and stay cautious. Celestia reached out to me and we’re giving each other what we need. Like I said before… We shouldn’t cause panic. And good work with how you got your friends convinced about part of the Agency’s aim.” “You had a solid idea about what your division was after. I think with that, there’s nothing more to trust you with.” Sunset said it with a smirk. And Charlie snorted. “Hmph. Now that’s a bummer. Sure you don’t wanna be friends?” He looked at her with a glare, but he chuckled and smiled. “Look… I was joking. That’s a good one though.” Sunset chuckled back appreciating the counter-joke. “Pretty good yourself, I guess. Anyway… I should pretty much talk to Twilight. Noticed we aren’t all there?” “Yeah… You should get her together.” Charlie advised it and Sunset said her goodbye before going a separate way. Charlie sighs and continues on before leaving the school peacefully. Finding his way back to the SUV, Chadwick got on at the front passenger seat with a fastfood box and put it at the back. “Mission accomplished?” “Maybe. But we should keep being aware for the next day or so.” Charlie started the SUV’s engines before driving out. “We had that idea with the mayor’s missing P.I. already leaving Canterlot, but it doesn’t make sense. He suddenly went off the grid, leaving all his things. Got an update so far?” “Afraid not, Charlie. Looks like it’ll be for another day.” Sighing, Chadwick falls asleep on the passenger chair, feeling the little vibrations of the SUV driving out of the area… Meanwhile, Sunset was knocking at Twilight’s door in the dorm areas of the school. She didn’t hear Twilight respond, so Sunset said she would come in, before she did. And in her dismay, what she predicted about Twilight was right, seeing her friend lying on the bed with her knees tucked to her chest on the bed. And Twilight sensed Sunset was nearby, so she sat on her bed and slightly lowered her shirt collar to show something to Sunset, besides the skin. There was a small bulge shaped like a tiny crystal, that was slowly and surely shrinking. Sunset, of course was concerned of this. “W-what is happening to you?” Twilight looked at Sunset with neutral emotion before looking at her hand. “I feel very little stings everywhere, and when I use magic? It starts to hurt at first, but the pain will slowly die down. My theory is that the geode inside me is beginning to turn into shards. And with what I’m feeling all over my body, my guess is that they’re spreading across. “What about you, Sunset?” Twilight looked at Sunset with her eyes narrowed at her. “Don’t you wanna find out what’ll happen to your powers?” Sunset then looked at her own crystal geode and thought about it, before looking back at Twilight. “I’m not sure it matters, Twilight. Look… I’m sorry if I had to come here at a bad time-” “It’s not a bad time, because I need to talk to you about something. Now… SIT… DOWN.” Twilight used her magic as she said those two words firmly, forcing Sunset to sit on the bed with her magic before it subsided. Then she sat beside Sunset and neared their faces. “Look… I’m sorry for what I said back there, but it’s what I feel. I actually envied you because you took yourself up as a leader.” “I know.” Sunset sighs afterwards. “Having you talk directly to Princess Twilight was a mistake.” Twilight glares at Sunset. “Says who? The leader who’s concerned she might get replaced?” “W-What the-? Twilight!!! I’m not even feeling I wanted to stay just to be replaced! I’m the same as the rest of you!! Princess Twilight feels that I was able to connect all of you to do better than the days you had before. We proved it with our friendship! And I saw it too! You’re just thinking of this because you aren’t a princess. But you don’t need to prove yourself to be one!” Sunset explains her point clearly, and it gets across. But Twilight had another thinking even if she listened. “I think there’s more to me than just being a friend to all six of you. I never took charge of my life and I only steered myself to what I wanted because it was what I was good at!” “So don’t stay that way…! You know you steered yourself in the right direction because you need people close to you who you can trust! You need to trust me now… just as I have in you.” Sunset mentioned this to remind Twilight of what happened between them and Wallflower Blush. This, Twilight understood and she frowned, looking away from Sunset. “I don’t feel like I’m brand new. I’ve changed… but… It isn’t for the better, is it?” “Honestly Twilight? I’m not sure. But you don’t need to walk that road alone. You have me and the gang to help you out.” “I want to believe that. You six are closer to each other than I am, but now it’s too late.” Twilight didn’t say a word and stood up, before she started to pack a bag for herself. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing from her. Does she actually think that she’s going to stand out that we won’t accept her anymore? I watched her pack her large bag, but I kept convincing her to not go. It was until she left the front courtyard that I followed her by myself that the other five caught the news Twilight was leaving. I for one wasn’t ready to give up then… Sunset holds Twilight’s hand at the front courtyard of the school to stop her friend from walking away. The other five were experiencing this, witnessing the moment they wished they wouldn’t remember… “Please… Twilight, don’t leave us!” “Leave me alone, Sunset.” Twilight glared at Sunset, feeling her hand was gripped tight. “I’m only going to hurt you, and the rest of you. I’m doing you a favor already.” “NO YOU’RE NOT! You’re hurting yourself because of Midnight Sparkle!” “MIDNIGHT SPARKLE AWAKENED ME TO SOMETHING I NEVER KNEW BEFORE!!!” Twilight said this, swatting Sunset’s hand away but also, unintentionally, slapping Sunset’s cheek in the process. Twilight seemed surprised she did it and looked at her hand, but glared anyway. “I’m sorry, Sunset. Princess Twilight helped me in realizing I play a good part. But is that part enough? No. That’s why back then when she told me that, it didn’t make sense.” Sunset felt her cheek while she started to cry. “Just… Go.” She said these words simply because she felt she didn’t need Twilight anymore. But as Twilight tried to apologize, Sunset felt rage. “GET OUT OF HERE!!! NOW!!!! Aaaggh…!” She felt her chest warm up, and her own crystal geode glowing. She got on her knees as she felt the pain, and groaned. Applejack arrived first to check what’s happening to Sunset before the rest of her friends came to comfort one of their own. As what happened to Twilight before, Sunset’s geode was forcing itself to infuse inside her body. Twilight turned her back on Sunset. “I don’t expect you to understand, but at least the pain… will be a part of you. Goodbye, Sunset.” She then walked without turning back, taking another direction of the sidewalk with a path that goes away from the school and the city… I was only feeling pain… pain that Twilight left, and the pain that my own crystal geode, the source of my power, was being infused in me. I thought it would be simple, but I don’t know what to think of next. For me, it’s just another day… I just hope she’d come back to us… I failed her that day… I failed Twilight Sparkle.
The Apple Sweetest in FriendshipSunset – Though it’s been a week, I couldn’t really stop thinking about Twilight ever since she left… I couldn’t believe it too… She actually left us without saying a goodbye. She actually felt really… really intent on leaving. There wasn’t a spell, and there wasn’t anything that influenced her. I wrote to Princess Twilight and I told her about what happened to me. It seemed unbearable of my crystal geode getting through my chest. Minutes later, it started getting smaller, and like what Twilight experienced I actually felt little stings in my body, probably because of it splitting into shards. It felt easier as more time passed. Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna did what they could, sending police task forces to look for Twilight, but none came back with news. That got my friends and I worried. To take my mind off, I needed to know what changed when I had my geode shards inside me, and it seems there was a lot. I practiced and I noticed a few things. I got more physically amplified, and then there’s magic control like how Twilight does it through levitation, and eventually? I was even teleporting too. Then there’s the control of thoughts that come into my head from others. They aren’t that much annoying anymore, and it seems Rainbow Dash’s over-usage of her abilities weren’t a key factor anymore, like my powers are separated from the rest. Was that a bad thing? The last things I wrote to Princess Twilight was that although our Twilight is gone, we’re hanging on. Our hopes are high we’d see her again, and we know very much that our Twilight is sincere, even… if it’s now shrouded in darkness. It’s like I felt Midnight Sparkle… only it’s just shaped into Twilight’s soul… And I’m really afraid of it. 1 week later… February 28, 2018... a Wednesday... 1157 hours... Sunset had finished writing entries into her mystical book she uses to communicate with Princess Twilight and was right at the front courtyard just at the small stair case that leads to the multiple door entrances of the school. After closing her book and keeping it in her knapsack, a familiar male agent was approaching. She nodded at his presence before speaking up. “Agent Darwin?” Charlie nods back. “Sunset.” “What ya doing here?” Sunset asked casually, though she already had some answer in her mind, causing her to look away. “Just some serious business as usual, Sunset. And, if you’re asking about Twilight’s whereabouts… Well… She’s gone completely off the grid. Even I couldn’t understand it, but all things crazy have answers.” “All things crazy-” Sunset uneasily chuckled after repeating what he said. “Yeah. I caught on with that. I think it’s just getting out of control. “Hey, uh… You wouldn’t happen to have something to know about Flash Sentry’s sudden disappearance, do you?” Sunset asked, feeling this was another concern. “Maybe you should try taking it slow taking things in, Sunset.” Charlie then gently brushed past her before moving into the school through the entrances. He noticed she followed him in, before he replied further. “Because really? I think you’re gonna be stressed. You didn’t see me much in a week, so it means I’m busy. And when I’m busy…” He glared right at her. “…I mean it.” Sunset snorted, letting him hear and she stopped to just see him walk off into the distance to the direction of Principal Celestia’s office. She was already at one of the hallways of the school when she saw the familiar brown southern hat Applejack wore, while its owner actually greeted her with a wave. “Hey Applejack.” “Howdy!” Applejack replied. “I see Charlie’s around.” “Yeah… Same old same old. He and Celestia are gonna talk about things. Best we wait for what we know.” Sunset said this, while analyzing Applejack’s mind. She could do it flexibly with her powers. And Applejack pretended not to care when her mind is completely opposite. “Jeez, maybe she could just use her powers to read his mind and own him.” Sunset growled a little and glared at Applejack. “You know the type who wants to just stalk you by telling you what that stalker knows you think of several seconds back?” Applejack gritted her teeth nervously. “Darn it, Sunset!” “Look, I’m not against your advice, but that enough is one thing I don’t need. I read his mind once and I know I gotta give him respect.” She stopped talking as a few students were around, and decided to deliver the rest of her message through telepathy. “Besides… He’s got good options laid down while he’s got his hands full. Us? We’re still learning. Ordinary day. Less suspicions. Better, right?” The two walked together until Sunset stopped to open her locker. Applejack made a reply through her thoughts hoping Sunset would hear. “I’m not saying you should open him up. Just tellin’ ya that we could handle whatever comes our way… the mayor… whatever holds Twilight hostage… or even their darn Agency.” Sunset slams her locker door close and glared at Applejack, nearing her face to the other while she whispered. “You like to make it personal with him spying on us in the first place. I get it. But I’m tellin’ ya to move on… and back off.” Applejack didn’t feel she wanted to impose too much with her reply while seeing Sunset step away, relieving her face away from Applejack’s as well. “I ain’t forcing anything, Sunset. Ya know what? You changed.” At that, Sunset chuckled. “Let’s just say I got a bigger perspective now. If you were Fluttershy, she’d be scared. I don’t want that. Good thing you’re one to understand it simply.” “Whoo-wee… I got a feeling you’re gonna bust anyone’s day.” Applejack muttered this to herself. Then Sunset heard voices from afar. One of them was Charlie’s and the other was Celestia’s. It sounded like they were arguing. She knew she was tracking what she hears with her powers. Applejack asked why Sunset suddenly looked towards a direction and was replied to with Sunset getting busy and eventually said her goodbye and walked off towards Celestia’s office… Several moments ago… Celestia covered her mouth seated on her desk as she looked down at horrid photos. Luna saw them and couldn’t bear it before she went immediately to the office’s bathroom. Charlie could hear Luna throw up in disgust with what the photos were described. Eventually, he made his comment. “Can’t say things are simple as we first thought. Ed Ricks was split up across states and it just keeps getting better and better. Nothing else explains that he was ripped apart before his parts were sent all around the country.” “This is horrible,” Celestia muttered before speaking up. “This is the fate of a P.I. that’s suspected to work for Mayor Warren? Something’s not right about this.” Charlie replies as calm as possible for Celestia. “Something was definitely not right. They were discovered right at the homes of his past clients, like the killer knew exactly how he operated and who he visited, when it’s so unlikely on his personality that he’d never let it happen. There’s no way in other scenarios that within one week, all the body parts would be sent this way, and it was so efficient if the delivery system was caught.” “Please get me straight to the point…” Celestia requested this just before Luna had finally arrived at her side, seeing her sister wiping a handkerchief on her mouth. “Luna, are you okay?” “I’m fine now…” Luna replied. Charlie then responded to Celestia’s request. “No physical evidence of delivery, and it’s like they all appeared on the scene. No break-ins. No damages to property. They were silently placed inside those homes. No prints either, and even traces of anyone moving those parts. It didn’t make any sense in the physical side of things.” “On the physical side?” Luna asked this for clarity, which Charlie answered. “We don’t just look at things at the most physical sense, Vice Principal. We already had an idea that there was magic used in this. The kind? We don’t know. We already took Equestrian Magic as one of the types that now exist in the world. But based on how we’ve known Equestrian magic since last year? This doesn’t apply.” Charlie groans. “Damn it… If we’re gonna find the culprits on this, then I might need to ask a huge favor to help with this investigation.” Celestia winced at that, before looking at Luna who looked back at her. Then they both had shock in their faces, both glaring at Charlie. “No… No, absolutely not!!!!” Celestia stood up from her seat, slammer her hands on the desk, and continued. “I will not allow you to take any of my students! They’re my responsibility!!!” Charlie chuckled before he abruptly stopped and glared back before raising his tone at her. “Well that responsibility was null and void the moment Sunset Shimmer started being reckless and turned into that she-demon she described herself before!!! Or maybe you’re forgetting-” “I will not let you take any of her friends or any of my students to endanger their lives!” “Well who the heck else knows how to counter magic of one kind? The magic of another!! And guess what? This world’s normal circle of magic-wielders can’t fight something like this.” Charlie put his arms crossed over his chest. “My division’s aim is to protect those who can willingly use their magic and give considerable damage to this country’s property and its citizens. You have to understand that we have to go through all lengths to do that!!! I might not force it, but someone else will.” Then he saw Celestia’s fear creeping in. “And if I’m not around to help you keep the seven’s identities a secret to the world, you and me both know it’ll be chaotic. Heck, there will be no doubt everyone’s gonna ask about the origins of their magic! You’ve got to see some sense!!” Luna spoke up this time. “You know her answer, Agent.” Charlie gently shook his head on the disappointment he’s feeling. “Alright. I’ll follow with the answer, but there’s another thing that’s got to go if it remains. I’ll have to be readily focused on this investigation, meaning I have to find other ways to deal with a threat like this. And I can’t spare resources to protect you and your students either. I’m on a budget and the Agency would stretch itself thin. I’m not allowing that. If you’re sure with your answer, I’ll have to remove the protections the Agency placed on CHS for good. Meaning… I’m not going to associate with you anymore and pull no stops with what I do best.” As Celestia heard of what he said, she knew that she had to reconsider. She looked at Luna if there’s anything different from what she thinks. Even Luna seemed unfazed with Charlie’s scenario. Celestia had to ask for something first just for clarity. “What about the likely plans the Mayor has for us?” “I can’t protect you from them either,” Charlie answered firmly. “I’m sorry. I got my resolve. I need yours.” “I understand. Still, I must-” But the doorknob, originally locked, was being unlocked and the door opens. Sunset comes in with a determined look and closes the door behind her. “Hi there.” “B-but how-?!” Charlie was shocked just as he brought out his handy remote control to check readings on its screen. He looked around at the corners of the room where he placed fluid sound disruptors. He looked at the readings on his remote, and eventually found no problems on each of them. “The dampening field is fine, but-! Sunset!!” “Long story short, Charlie! I can read every mind inside this room and I didn’t need your sound proofing to keep things private!! And as for that door?” Sunset showed her horn shaped from her aura on her forehead before it faded. “Magic.” Charlie groans. “Ugh… I can’t believe this…! Sunset, this isn’t the time!” Sunset glared at him before sending her reply through telepathy. “There’s always time for reason, Charlie.” She saw him a bit nervous, even prompting him to be defensive. “It’s alright, Charlie. It’s me. A week has passed, but I knew my powers were getting stronger. I had to get some way to control it. Good thing I still do now.” Celestia and Luna were just staring at Sunset for what’s happening and they couldn’t properly react. Sunset continued by speaking up. “I know that pretty much, Equestrian magic is what I know. But if there’s one as dangerous as what we wield, maybe there’s no question we need to intervene.” Charlie saw Sunset’s point, but he looked at Celestia, then back at Sunset to try making a point. “Your Principal’s more concerned of you and your friends not getting hurt than finding out what’s happened to our dead P.I. here. There’s got to be some answer at why and how this happened.” “Sunset,” Celestia called. “You know I can’t just let you go… not after what happened to Twilight. Please…” “She was intent on leaving!!” Sunset barks at Celestia. “In case you haven’t been understanding how I said it to you and Vice Principal Luna, she wished she would spare us from her endangering us, since…” She hesitates to lie further and sighs before continuing with another subject matter. “She’s sincere enough to give me a bad eye, knowing that I’m mostly leading our friendship to better lengths that she’d envy what I am. I’m just doing what I do best for our circle. I’m not restricting anyone to a certain role. We’re all being casual to ourselves and to others. And… we make our sure our friendship is tight. We have disagreements, but I never had something with Twilight that big before. That meant she had to leave. “Principal Celestia. I know every one of us means so much to you, but I’d wish that you let us grow to make decisions that require… us. We got Equestrian magic that could help with finding out in the investigation. If another type of magic is really existent, we gotta know if it’s harmful or not. That’s my purpose ever since you and Vice Principal Luna told me to keep a good eye on it during the Friendship games… understand magic besides our type. I think this needs my attention.” Celestia and Luna looked at each other before they huddled together with their arms before whispering at each other. Charlie gently used his elbow to poke Sunset’s arm. Hoping she’d hear his thoughts, he sends it to her. “Thinking she’d allow it?” Sunset appreciate the casual tone he had on his thoughts and looked at him. “You’re really used to this, aren’t you?” Smiling, she continued her reply. “I don’t think she’ll refuse since there’s a personality of peace within her. Maybe she’s not like Princess Celestia back at my world.” “Princess Celestia?” “Alternate being from Equestria, the world and dimension I came from. The Princess rules a whole kingdom. Similarities on Principal Celestia, is that they’re both caring like they’re both mothers. They both cherish their subjects and they both know what makes them grow too.” Sunset’s reply just came before Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna got back from the huddle. With that, Celestia said her final decision. “I will grant this request, but granted, you will have at least one of your friends, only, to come with you.” Sunset was interested in this condition and nodded. “Sure thing. Less numbers from my party, the better. And it’s less likely Mayor Warren would catch up to what we do.” “Then it’s agreed. Let me know of who you’ve chosen to take with you. I’ll make arrangements on your leave with Luna.” Celestia’s reply came just before Charlie and Sunset said their goodbyes. Charlie sighs as he closes the door behind him, leaving him with twilight on that hallway before walking with her. “So who are you gonna take with ya?” “I think I already got someone in mind.” “Good to know-” Charlie got interrupted when Sunset suddenly disappeared in front of her from a hint of magic. He got slightly startled when someone poked him from behind, only to find out it was Sunset. “What the-?” “Told ya. Magic improvement.” Sunset said it with a smug face. 1425 hours… Since the month doesn’t demand that much of anything school-related, my friends and I agreed to meet up in the music room where the Rainbooms, meaning us, practice sets of pieces we come up with. I gathered us all there save for Twilight who’s gone, and Charlie Darwin just nearby. He’s giving us privacy, but he’s making sure he at least hears us. Seated in a circle in the music room, the girls were having the conversation to themselves, but Applejack feels suspicious seeing Charlie nearby. Sunset spoke up. “Applejack, you can relax. He’s pretty much okay to me.” “Still,” Applejack replied. “He’s pretty focused on all of us.” “Of course he is! He’s making sure we’re not suspicious to him!” Rainbow Dash laughs at what Sunset said. “And you said you were since he’s been a pain!!!” And she kept laughing. Pinkie Pie thought of things and had an idea. “I can always think a way of pranking him! Thing is, if you want me to do stuff for that long, that’s fine too!” “Um…” Fluttershy wanted to speak up. “I want to point out that although he’s stalking, it doesn’t give us the right to abuse him for it.” “Too right, Fluttershy” said Rarity in agreement. “Darling… After thinking about it for a while, I’d say he can be trusted. He’s proven his stance on the situation with the mayor.” Sunset then stands, groaning before telling all of them. “But Principal Celestia said I’d only take one of you.” “ONLY ONE?!” The other girls exclaimed. “Sorry, but that’s final.” Sunset said it and put her arms on her chest. “And I already decided.” I know I had to think about it for a few hours since I was reviewing strengths and weaknesses, and maybe I would need the big muscle on this. Applejack’s got a unique perspective of keeping it simple and provides good advice to keep things on track. That said, I already had my answer. “Applejack,” Sunset called her. “You got a good role in keeping our foundation in friendship strong from time to time. You even helped Fluttershy during that Dazzle performance, and even in her audition.” Applejack winced, looking at Fluttershy who smiled at her. Then she looked back at Sunset. “She told ya, hm?” Fluttershy replied, looking with proud eyes at Applejack. “I should be sure you’d protect her too. Thanks for back then. I know you deserve it.” Applejack stands and faces Sunset, reaching her hand out to Sunset. “I’m glad to be given this chance. I won’t let you down.” She adjusts her brown cowboy hat worn on her head, letting her smile. And Sunset takes Applejack’s hand, grasping it tight before pulling Applejack close to a hug. “Thanks, Applejack.” “GROUP HUG!!!!” Pinkie pie shouted and it was normal for the rest. Charlie quietly groans, seeing all the girls make a big hug. “Unbelievable,” he thought. Sunset sends her little chuckles through her telepathy towards him. “See? It works out one way or another.” “Oh, shut up.” “Admit it,” Sunset sent through telepathy just before she stays silent enjoying the hug. And Charlie had that imaginary last laugh staying silent himself.
SHORT #1 - “My Midnight of Another Star”Twilight – I had only one regret when I left Canterlot High. Guilt. No matter what kind of guilt it is, I still know that it was the only motivation I had for leaving. Is it permanent? Even I don’t know if it is. All I know is that I’ve been living by myself. Maybe my parents were worried that I left. But why haven’t they called? Maybe because they might know I’m still okay. Did Principal Celestia really keep my absence under wraps? What mattered back when I’m alone, is thinking. Back then before and during the Friendship games, I had the personality of someone who wanted to explore possibilities. You can pretty much tell when you’ve known my life that I’m like a mad scientist. I’d take that as a joke if I were you. No… in fact… Maybe take that as my deepest darkest ego. The nerdy girl with a dark side to her… most is what made my version of Midnight Sparkle. Which is why I’m surprised I even found out later on Midnight’s spirit had changed from the last time I saw and felt her… Twilight was all alone by herself at her rented room someplace else than Canterlot. She sighs, knowing that leaving her own circle of friends also involved leaving her parents. Although she only had a home in CHS being away from Twilight Velvet and Night Light, she knew she didn't have to worry about both of them. They believe she's strong girl ever since her past change to Midnight Sparkle and being defeated. They have no idea that she was more. Lying down on her bed in that rented room with her glasses off, she felt a presence. There was a slight coldness at her left arm and she glared at the owner of the hand... Then the coldness faded and warmth came. When Twilight saw the very familiar figure of Midnight herself, she gritted her teeth and growled, slightly pushing away Midnight and away from the bed. Twilight sat up, maintaining her glare on Midnight. "I don't need you, Midnight. I can take care of myself." From her brief surprise, Midnight easily turned to smirk at Twilight. "I'm a very solid memory of the Midnight you know, but I was always around. I explored the Existence I was only around to roam on as a spirit. The moment I completely left you at Camp Everfree was the moment I decided not to return to you in a harsh manner. I let you be." "On purpose?" Twilight asked raising an eyebrow. "Or maybe you just don't wanna make my friends aggressive if you come back." "Definitely not," Midnight replied looking at Twilight's eyes with no sign of lying in herself. "You pushed me away, so you deserved to be left alone. But abrupt from my peace from you, your own geode of power became my ticket to returning. And... I had been made one, of another version of myself." Twilight sighs, getting off the bed and using her magic to make it float. "Another version of yourself? You're joking." Midnight narrowed her eyes at Twilight. "I'm not even lying to you." "Really now?" Twilight asked raising her town and forced the bed down slamming on the floor to make a point before letting go of her magic. "You might be a part of me, but it doesn't give me all the reason to believe you." Midnight barks back. "YOU WILL, BECAUSE I AM PART OF WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY! I am the result of your curiosity, your knowledge, and your journey to becoming personified as Midnight Sparkle! And... I'm the only one who truly understands you as a person." She said it, and they both created a pause, since Midnight needed to see how Twilight reacts. Twilight paused herself to try processing what Midnight said and sadly, it made sense to her. How often would she be going to Canterlot High in the past to try getting the sense out of magic? But now she knows she was getting over her head with what she finally understands, she knows it isn't just that. It's something more broad than how she knew, before she met Sunset, and after. Eventually, Midnight saw how Twilight sighed. "Finally understanding my point?" Twilight nods. "I just didn't want my fidgety nature to come back. It doesn't need to. But if I'm going to accept having your logic, I might create problems with Sunset." She then decided to sit on the bed again. Patting a spot beside her, she saw Midnight nod and eventually join her to sit on the bed. "But enough about that. You said you met another version of yourself. What did you mean?" Midnight chuckled. "You'll like how I define things, since it'll be requiring your understanding of dimensions." With that statement, she got Twilight's attention and began to tell her story... She chuckled before she spoke up. "You don't know all the things I went through just to understand another perspective of me. After you've banished me from your body, my spirit traveled to another instance where I existed. You always hear of Twilight's student, Starlight Glimmer, right?" Twilight nods. "Yeah. Sunset Shimmer tells me stories. She's Princess Twilight's student." "Well, unlike in my instance where I would exist soon, the Twilight Sparkle who was supposed to take Starlight Glimmer in had a dark vision of Starlight. Instead of taking Starlight in, Twilight took Starlight to a dark void. It was supposed to be used for critical emergencies, but she knew by using it, she could never go back. So she used it, and she transported both of them into that place with only minimal light. "Princess Twilight explained that Starlight's actions were unforgivable, and that there's no such thing as equality without cutie marks, or core purposes given to every pony who lived in Equestria. Starlight argued she made mistakes and wants to be reformed, and she even begged for it. Twilight only smiled and laughed, before she started to unleash her powers of darkness, part of which was learned while reading Sombra's dealings with his own dark magic. Starlight was turned into black stone, just before Twilight fired a magic beam that completely shattered Starlight's stone figure into pieces, thus killing her. "Princess Twilight's cutie mark had darkened, and she transformed into that world's version of Midnight Sparkle. You know why? Because her purpose was renewed: What if there was a better power to rule over Equestria instead? Fallen from the grace of her friends and Princess Celestia, that world's Midnight had been busy trying to get Tirek out of Tartarus. Much to Twilight's surprise... Her newfound power of Midnight Sparkle was able to stun and subdue Tirek's guardian, Cerberus, before she broke Tirek out of captivity, not to give him a chance to backstab anyone again, because she'd already got that in mind for him. "Stealing his essence of eating magical power like he used to, Midnight proceeded straight to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna under the guise of Twilight, who eventually told them she'd gained more if she'd taken the helm for Equestria. It was too late that the two other alicorn princesses would react and Midnight shown her true majestic form before eating up the magic power of both princesses. "Years have passed after that, and her conquest of Equestria was over. Her friends were captured, and she even executed one of her friends as well: Fluttershy, the only one who was able to at least bring a spark of light in Midnight Sparkle. Fluttershy's actions of convincing Midnight of what better she'd do than subdue Equestria to doom was able to convince her, even if Fluttershy had already passed away. But even if Midnight is poised to rule over Equestria to make it better, she needed to change things." Twilight sighs as Midnight told that story to her. "What kind of changes, exactly?" "It's a kind that's good for almost everyone. There wouldn't be any need for anyone fancy, and those who are needed are business people, the general workforce, and no one showboating their own fortunes. Citizens who aren't any of them were given the choice to just be themselves or serve Midnight's kingdom to explore other worlds on other dimensions. Heck... she even granted travel to other dimensions with her power-" "Look... Just tell me what happened to her and how you were able to fuse her spirit to yours," Twilight said, running a bit impatient on the storytelling. Midnight nods and smiles. "That dimension's Midnight as I watched, battled other gods who refuse to be friends with her and she fought to the last breath to spread her influence. Just as she was about to die, ready to accept that the doom of Equestria would be her own absence, she sensed my spirit who was watching this. And she told me she knew I was there. "I remembered these words as she was fading away. 'Remember all that I've done was to better Equestria.' I didn't ask for anything else once she said those words. I had questions of what would happen if happiness fades from her world? Her own answer once I infused my spirit with her, is that happiness comes at another form, and so does anything else. We might think it disappears, but it mostly becomes another form entirely. I figured everything else would fall into place with that question answered. And with her knowledge... I understood. I became... so much more." Twilight looked away having heard Midnight's story. "So you're basically an Empress who destroyed Equestria, made it better in a way, and then you come back to me as- I don't know if I could ever trust you for plunging your own version of Equestria into chaos. But... making it better in the end? How?" Midnight stopped Twilight from speaking by putting her hand on Twilight's shoulder. Twilight's eyes glowed bright blue, matching Midnight's. "Then let me show you all that I've lost, what I've done... and what you could do if you decide for yourself." Twilight was then taken to a vision of memories from Midnight's eyes, telling her the whole story, how she'd overthrown Celestia and Luna, defeated all of her friends, and how she spread power to the right places to better Equestria... Later... Twilight decided to be in a convenience store that same night to think. Her conversation with Midnight was on a whole new level from before, and her calm nature, became one of better-calculating confidence in herself. She no longer had her glasses that time and she was browsing for items. She was by herself and the store clerk was at the cashier. Then a black-hooded figure entered before equipping a gun and pointing it at the cashier, he was quiet declaring his intention to rob the store and the cashier raised his hands, knowing he doesn't have security measures. Twilight caught wind of this and told herself this was typical, before approaching both of them. She saw the cashier taking out cash from the cash register. Then Twilight made a firm tone as she spoke at the Cashier. "Don't give him anything. And... hide." With that, the cashier quickly pulled the cash away from the counter and ducked to cover. The robber pointed his gun at Twilight. "What about you shut up?" "What about putting the gun down?" Twilight said before walking toward him. She then saw him squeeze the trigger, firing a round right at her before she glared and worked her magic. At the robber's awe, his own bullet stopped, so he kept firing at her until he had emptied his pistol and throwing it away. He was terrified, seeing all his bullets hovering near Twilight but never hitting her. She then lets go of her magic-hold on the bullets each hitting the floor. "You could have made it easy. Now you'll be judged." The robber then felt a sharp pain on his arm, the same one that held his weapon, before he felt a bone crack. He screams, just before he felt his wrist, and then a bone broke again, making him scream more. He was scared, forcing him to try recovering and stand, then make a run for it. But as he ran to the door, a frying pan flew to his head and hit him, eventually making him drop on the ground unconscious. Twilight easily overwhelmed and defeated him there. Then Twilight went to the cashier who was against the corner of the counter with fear in his eyes. She saw it, and knew what it meant. "You saw, didn't you?" As she asked, he nodded and never spoke a word, shaking in fear. "I left you cash on the counter. More than enough for you." Then she held up a box of orange juice in her hand so he could see. "Keep the change." And she left the cashier alone before walking out of the convenience store, opening up the box and drinking its liquid from there, safely walking away from the scene... Twilight returned from the convenience store, and she put the box of orange juice down at the small table in the apartment room before taking off her jacket. With magic drawn, she had spread her wings influenced from Midnight Sparkle. Though it had a mix of dark purple, she knew it was significantly lessened and it was colored with a brighter purple. She felt her power that night rise to a good height, but she had enough in her mind she didn't want to have a lust for more. Twilight groaned, folding her wings and trying to get used to the power she's wielding. "Midnight... if only it was easier..." Midnight spoke to Twilight through a voice in her head. "Nothing is easy. I once thought about it, and training DOES get you anywhere. You need practice. What you've done at the convenience store... It's a good thing you have control, but you don't want to lose control of it. I've been trained to practice peace in my time, so you should do the same. And your feelings towards your friends now? You've got to find peace against those feelings." Twilight nods. "I understand." By what Twilight has in mind, she spreads her wings again, before picking up her box of orange juice. Bright purple flames came from her arm, traveled to her hand and to the box before it was ignited in flames. She dropped the box and the carpet it touched started to spread the fire... Twilight was later watching multiple fire trucks outside the apartment building and felt the fire was extinguished. Midnight's voice spoke to Twilight. "You predicted that they could put out your fire?" "It’s not too big. And they're fast enough for that kind of emergency. Besides... I'm not one to doubt unless they really slack." After making her response, Twilight walked away from the building. "I'm not like you, Midnight. But I want to know what else I could do with the power I got. And I'm not one to succumb in lusting for more. What happens to me shouldn't shake my friendship with them further as it is now." "Sunset might not look like it, but one day... she'll use you." Midnight's words weren't putting Twilight in a trance. And Twilight knew it. "We'll see." For days, I’ve been practicing to better my powers. Midnight and I were talking often ever since. The darkness that she had from Sombra… It never existed. That’s why I’m never able to get the worst of what she is. She was a reformed Midnight Sparkle, my voice from another view. And the training really pierces into my emotions. I felt fear… hatred… lust. But channeling it together with the current power and alignment I have towards friendship? It made me feel that I’m so much more… Midnight was right. I have to overcome my own darkness to open a new mind… Twilight was reading a book in a town library that sunny day. She adjusted her glasses for a little while she was reading. She turned a page and sighed, knowing not much has to change to what she thought was the norm. Then she winced, lifting her eyes away from the book. Her breathing started to pace faster before she turned her head and her body around seeing a man under the cover of a shadowy aura. This entity had yellow glowing eyes. It even slowly etched a smile with its mouth that looked like it had fangs shaped from the shadow. She narrowed her eyes, closing the book she read while looking at the shadowy figure. “You seem out of place. If you like… I can send you straight to hell.” And after she said it, the shadowy figure chucked and started to walk towards her. She snorts at this before she walked towards the shadowy figure. In the eyes of the shadow entity, it chuckled, just before its target suddenly used magic to disappear. It then heard a voice from behind. “Surprise,” said the girl who it saw and the entity felt the back was pierced and the blade-like object goes through until the chest. It grunted in pain while seeing the sword made out of a lavender magic aura. “I’d like it if your kind never came into existence. You’re interesting though.” She said it with a chuckle before the entity was feeling too much heat from where it was stabbed. Twilight was pushing flames from her magic into the shadow entity and smirked just before she overloaded her target with fire. Soon, the shadow was turning into smoke, and soot had spread all throughout the library. It sent out fire alarms all over the place. But no sprinklers were installed in the library. Some people were starting to scream in panic as they ran out. But as no one saw her, she chuckled to herself, feeling her power surge well throughout her body. “I feel one… with my flames…” She muttered to herself just before she levitated off the floor, closing her eyes, she felt her own spirit morphed her clothes for a while before they turned back. She descends and lands back to the floor with a smile in her face. The boy who witnessed it all who was dirtied with the thick soot didn’t feel his legs shaking. But they were. “W-what-what-? What in the hell-? Who… are you?!!” Twilight smiled to herself. “Well that’s a very good question.” She grinned while turning her head to him with pupils dilated. Ehehehe… I was sure to tell him exactly who I feel I was. I’m great at releasing my darker side. And whether I’ve been feeling both sides of me, I can tell which to apply. This time… my own personality is whatever I please. And this is so much better than what I was before. She chuckled before replying to the boy. “I am Midnight.”
AppleJack Reboot – Part 1AC130 flying in the skies… Nighttime… The AC130 transport aircraft was steady as it flew above the clouds… Sunset – Before I left Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack’s home, of course I had to meet the family. Applebloom, Big Macintosh, and Granny Smith. They showed me around too, and I really saw their big agricultural space really got the nearby Canterlot City to enjoy their products, since they produce from apples. When Applejack broke the news that she’s needed with me to handle something important someplace else, of course they were surprised. But what I really admire about her is that she’d never hide her sincerity towards helping others. I felt really sad to see Applejack go. It’s something I didn’t like either, but this had to happen. I chose her to accompany me but I was hesitant after that. She convinced me I shouldn’t change my mind, so I followed her suggestion. Then there was Spike who, after the whole ordeal with Twilight and the rest of us, wasn’t able to come with Twilight. He’s staying with Fluttershy right now but he feels very lonely. I talked to him before I went on my way to travel in the military plane with Applejack and he said he’s okay without Twilight. While in that plane, I was listing possible things we’d expect from that Agency team who retrieved… well… whatever’s left of Mayor Warren’s Private Investigator. It doesn’t feel weird when you think about the magic that did it, and I think it was brutal. Friendship magic is one thing, but something else completely disregarded life… If I’m really that strong enough… I wanna find a way to end the problems that type of magic causes. The AC130 was shaking a little when Applejack was lying on the makeshift bed on the plane while her hat was off and beside her. There were metallic crates around her that makes her feel a little surrounded, but the opening path out of the crates at least assured her there’s a way off her area. There were things in Applejack’s mind in regards to the matter at hand, finding that private investigator’s killer. She’s not one to brainstorm alone, so she sighed knowing she needs another perspective. Speaking of perspective, Sunset was already there. “Hey there,” she called. Applejack sits up on her makeshift bed. “Hey there, Sunset. Everyone’s either just getting used to the plane shaking, or it’s just making them nervous.” Sunset raised an eyebrow. “Naturally. There are scientists here too. Flying’s not for everyone.” I could tell she agrees highly. This was her first time leaving the Equestria-version state of this world. Oh… Forgot to raise the matter of Equestria being one of the United States that makes up about 15 percent of a large continent it’s in. Hm… Maybe now’s not the time to get into the details of the world. Point is… Applejack’s first time flying? At least it wasn’t laughable. She might have been nervous and startled during the takeoff, but at least she’s able to get past her fears. Applejack chuckled before taking a look at her small crystal geode shaped like an apple worn as a necklace around her neck. She even held it to inspect it. “Sunset… How’d you and Twilight ever get your geodes in your bodies in the first place? Wasn’t it forced?” Sunset nodded. “It felt like it. But what I don’t understand back then is why that was the case.” “I hear ya there.” Applejack looked at her geode and closed her eyes. It then started to glow as she predicted it would before she eyed the geode. “Sunset… I think I wanna go through it if it happens. Not that I’d want to, but I’m concerned about somethin’.” “And that’s what, exactly?” “Twilight’s fusion of her geode was so fast, and so was yours. I don’t know. Maybe her feelings of envy really rushed the process. You heard her say she envied you, right?” “Yeah.” “Then what’s the thing you were thinking about the whole time before she left you there at the school?” “I…” Sunset thought of things to herself just before answering. “Well… I thought of the welfare we all had and how Twilight leaving us would affect our friendship. I was the one who was most affected when Twilight was willing to leave, even after all the hardships we’ve faced… the games… at Camp Everfree… I was the one who felt our friendship needs to be so much more than it was… Wait… Are you-?” Applejack smiled just before her geode began to stick to her chest. “One thing I knew I was doing was keepin’ our friendship intact with what we’re focused on. Whenever I know we’re all having conflictin’ ideas, I try to snap us out of it. Whatever made us all fight, I make sure to be the first to give us all a wake-up call. Ya even saved me from getting too deep into my anger… once. I felt as if I needed to carry on that burden if you weren’t around, I’d step up to make our bond last.” Eventually, her whole body glowed with the same color as the geodes, making her close her eyes and groan just before the geode was starting to insert itself slowly. She chuckled at this. “Finally…” Sunset was seeing it with her own eyes. “Applejack-?!” “What the heck’s going on?!!” Charlie came in running to see what was happening and saw Applejack was glowing and starting to weaken. “Applejack?! What’s wrong?!” “It’s happening. Her own geode… It’s responding.” “You mean-? Same thing that happened to you and Sparkle? How?” “I understand it now.” Sunset looked at her palm before she saw her cutie mark briefly appear and let it fade at her will. “My element is Empathy, and Twilight’s was Magic. It was those two things that activated or sped up the process. Both of us felt what reminded us of our elements in our current lives. Applejack was reminded of how true her heart was towards our friendship and- I can’t believe it. This is how it would happen. I don’t know what’s causing this all to happen.” “Not- Important,” Applejack said before she gently laid herself down on her makeshift bed. She saw Sunset get close to her side just before she held out her hand. “Please.” Sunset nods and holds Applejack’s hand. She then felt surprised as she was feeling Applejack’s temperature. “You’re cold. Wait… No! Hang on, Applejack!” “Please… don’t leave me…” Applejack’s eyes were feeling heavy to her and she was closing them slowly. “Mmm…” And eventually, she saw the image of her own geode inside her body, slowly splitting into shards as the magic that worked between each shard started to move them all over her body. Applejack groaned in pain and gritted her teeth. “Aagh… Ahh…!” She tightened her grip on Sunset’s hand. She couldn’t hear Sunset or Charlie’s voices calling out her name, and she needed to focus on what was happening to her. Her body was feeling the same thing as she was slowly starting to lose consciousness. The stings she felt all over the body were starting to deepen and were leaving the surface. Soon, she started to relax and breathe until she was sleep. Sunset even felt Applejack’s grip give in. With her other free hand, she tested for Applejack’s pulse. Applejack was okay, and it was more evident with her temperature warming back to normal. “She’s… stabilizing? And she’s asleep.” Charlie sighed. “For how long? We’ll be wheels down in an hour.” “I know. This is why I need to make sure. If she stays asleep, I can manage-” “Absolutely not, Sunset! She’s gonna slow us down if she’s still asleep!” Charlie said this just before he started to emit a glow of red, possibly coming from Sunset’s magic before he was levitated off the ground. “H-Hey!! Put me down!!” Sunset was using her eyes and other senses to work her magic before smiling. “Charlie, she’ll be safe with me. You got my word on that. And if anybody asks, we’ll just say Applejack’s had a long night.” She then slowly puts Charlie back down before letting go of her magic. “You’ve got someone more capable to be with her.” “If you say so.” Charlie rolled his eyes after replying just before he walked away from Applejack’s makeshift bed. And Sunset looked at Applejack’s sleeping form, her knees tucked in to her chest lying on her side while surprisingly relaxed. She even heard Applejack relaxingly breathe, just before Applejack herself was feeling something else in her head change her experience. She would enter a dream linked to her own… __________________ The only thing Applejack experienced for the past five minutes or so was that the stars were around her, and gravity was ruling her fears as she fell. She fell and fell, making her shout her heart out. She held her hat at her chest, wondering if it would fly off in the wind. She saw the Earth below her as she fell, but she felt a gentle force slow down her fall. Eventually, her head was facing up again, sensing this force made her position upright. It was even weird when she sensed she was stepping on something… a floor piece of about 3 feet long, and across. And she was still seeing through the transparent floor piece the Earth she would crash into if she wouldn’t stop falling. “But what stopped my fall?” Applejack wondered in her thoughts. Then a woman’s voice spoke to her, older in its 30’s. “You’re wondering what brought you here. Celestia and I were waiting for this day, if ever it was true. It seems it was.” “What’s true?!” A puddle of royal blue magic travelled like a trail of sprinkles around her just before the magic made a shape, resembling a royal-blue colored mare wearing a black sash around her neck with a white crescent moon symbol on it. This particular mare seemed majestic with the unicorn’s horn on its head and the wings on its side. As it appeared, its wings were spread out, and it folded them when it was in front of Applejack. Applejack wondered what the mare was doing there and she winced at that realization. “Are you… that voice?” The winged unicorn nodded before speaking up. “We have different languages, but I can understand you-” “WAAAH!!” Applejack shrieked, making her step back, then realized she only has much room that she tried to stabilize herself. She felt her legs shake for a while before it faded, looking at the winged unicorn who was clearly in surprise, because of her surprise. “Are you… talking?” The winged unicorn rolled her eyes. “Surely you’ve heard Princess Twilight’s story of her coming from Equestria, Applejack. I’m sure you also heard of what you might think is a tall tale of talking ponies, in which in your realm they do not speak at all.” Applejack wasn’t sure about what to think and even blinked in disbelief before scratching her head. “I kinda understand when it comes to believing magic coming from your world is real, but I didn’t see anythin’ from Equestria at all! Honest!” Then she winced again. “Wait… You know my name?” “I sure do. I am Princess Luna. I currently reside in Canterlot together with Princess Celestia. And together, along with two other Princesses, we rule and safeguard Equestria.” Luna paused before continuing. “I raise the moon, and my sister Celestia raises the sun, so the two of us have a duty at a specific time of day. And one of the more crucial duties I have for every pony sleeping at night, is to monitor for problems in their dreams, and resolve things from there. But for you and I to meet,” she narrowed her eyes on Applejack, “is very peculiar. Celestia told me she had a vision of one in your circle of friends to be able to contact one of our champions.” “Wait, you’re serious?!” “I know I am, Applejack. Ever since Sunset Shimmer had informed us about the magic that seeped from Equestria and brought in to their realm, and the questionable amount it had actually taken in even before she came, Celestia and I both tasked Princess Twilight to leave us occasional updates on what is known on this phenomenon.” Luna clears her throat. “Let’s not talk about it for now. This dream connects you, and our Applejack of Equestria. And because the power inside you is maturing, this was a necessary procedure.” “Maturing?” “Princess Twilight SHOULD tell you if she explains in one of the replies she makes to Sunset Shimmer. She’s aware of the dream you’re having right now, and is even connected to me.” “Y-you mean she’s-?” Applejack then looked around before seeing a magenta-colored pony, also a winged unicorn in nature who smiled at her. “You’re-? Princess Twilight?!” “APPLEJACK!!” Princess Twilight’s eagerness to meet the human Applejack made her gallop and even pounce on her other-worldly friend. She hugged her friend, and the country girl who was sitting on the floor hugged back. “I’m so glad you’re here!!” Applejack felt her own hug was making her and Twilight warm. A smile was formed on her face on this feeling before letting go of Twilight. “So this is where you’ve been to when you’re busy.” “Ehehehe… Not really.” Twilight replies with a grin. “Don’t forget that I’m the Princess of Friendship in Equestria. And I’m just here to guide you through the dream like Princess Luna. And since you’re here… We may as well take you around the place where my circle of friends had formed.” Applejack then saw the scenery change around her just before she realized she was standing on a soil path that leads to a small town. She noticed there were ponies at that town, at somewhat the same type as Twilight was, with others varying. “W-where are we?” “That’s Ponyville right there, Applejack.” Twilight said while trotting ahead of Applejack before stopping and looking back. “I arranged things with Princess Luna so we’d give you a tour. Of course, you’ll be meeting our world’s Applejack soon enough! Come on!” And Applejack smiled before following behind Twilight Sparkle, the first version of Twilight who she was true to first in her world… __________________ Visions went black for a certain individual. The girl groaned, concentrating her power towards certain parts of the United States of America. She felt spots of darkness and shadow starting to grow all over the country. Twilight opened her eyes while seated on the floor. That night, she witnessed the candles that were once lit around her have finally gone out. She was in another place, a more subtle house which is yet to be claimed by an owner. The living room was huge, she would sometimes think to herself. And it wasn’t really too dark as the moon’s rays shone in the light her surroundings partially. “Something’s happening,” Twilight muttered eyeing her glasses just beside her and looked away from it. “What’s this darkness? Shadow?” “I’m not sure either” Midnight’s voice replied. “You’re strong in sensing power surges from different types of magic that are becoming noticeable. If I’m right of what I felt on that same power, it’s beginning to move… towards Canterlot City.” “Hmm…” Twilight frowned, not seeing a reason to doubt since that’s what she’s confirming. “But it’s beginning to form in groups. What does this mean?” “Even I don’t have an idea.” “This magic is so powerful that even my powers sense it… This is going south… All of it. I… I have to be there to see. Being just here isn’t going to help.” “It’s always been up to you, Twilight. You now have my powers not just to understand magic, but to exploit it once you learn them. That’s how I’ve succeeded back then as an Empress. I study my enemies and try to outwit them.” “It’s not as easy now as it looks, Midnight. We don’t even know if it has a mind of its own.” Twilight replied and heard Midnight chuckle. “What?” “Who said I had it easy as an Empress as well?” Midnight replied this to Twilight, even making Twilight think. “Of course you have to be patient for this matter. Now… what’s your next move?” Twilight decided to stand up. At that time, she was barefoot while in the house. As she eyed her own eyeglasses, she was making sure her magic was doing her hair, changing its style to look like a beautiful twist that climbs upwards. She smirked, raising her foot and slamming it down to her glasses, breaking its frame and making the glass shatter. She groaned a little, feeling her foot was even bleeding, but even her magic that was so powerful was beginning to mend her wounds healing it so quickly. “You know exactly what I have in mind, Midnight. If these Shadows are going to threaten everyone else who’s around Canterlot City, I’ll be sure to find weaknesses.” She then walks and closes her eyes before she opened them again revealing her eyes that were once white and magenta were now a bright blue-green color and darker magenta. “If they choose to force my hand… I will raise hell on them.”
AppleJack Reboot – Part 2Applejack – Ponyville wasn’t just great… It’s actually amazin’! I didn’t know how the mechanics went with just the dream itself, but Princesses Luna and Twilight did a nice job! I actually believe Ponyville as it is. Just the little hiccup I can’t talk to any of the other ponies beside Twilight and Luna since they’re not real. But I DID find out Princess Twilight’s friends in general and what they mean to her. We didn’t take too long since Princess Luna insisted we move the dream on, and have me finally meet my ponyself. Looks like we didn’t have to walk far. I was seeing exactly what I needed to see… the trademark and symbol of the Apple family. The wooden sign with the hole of the apple hanged from the entrance of the orchard was the first thing Applejack saw before she saw a somehow familiar barn, red in its color but looking to be more convincing to be her own back from her world. “I… I can’t believe it…” She muttered these words while smiling eventually seeing the vast amount of apple trees around the farm. “So many apple trees… so much more than what our farm would get… and it’s actually here… Sweet Apple Acres…” The Equestrian Princess Twilight was beside Applejack looking from the orchard to the country girl. “Ready to meet your ponyself?” “Darn tootin.” Applejack replied before she walked ahead with Twilight following behind her, while aware Princess Luna would be watching from another location entirely. Pony Applejack was rubbing her hoof on a giant apple that was touching the ground, while still attached to the currently bent tree that it grew from. “A better dream than anything… I was waiting for this…” She even moaned while putting her face next to the giant apple and rubbed it against her face gently. “This is more li-” “Whooooo-weee!!” A voice, country in nature and female from its source was heard just nearby, and Pony Applejack saw a being with two legs. Then the girl spoke more as she looked at the apple. “Is that apple huge? Hm! Can’t wait to-! Oh!” The girl looked at Pony Applejack and waved in a greeting. “Howdy!” Pony Applejack was baffled as she approached the two-legged girl slowly, trying to eye the human girl. She looked weird, having clothes with a single apple on the shirt and that hat that seemed to familiar, since it’s an exact copy of her own. She gasped and stopped where she is. “Wait a darn second! Hold on! You’re thinkin’ I’m crazy, but-! Do you-?” “Eeyup!” Human Applejack replied with a grin. “I can understand ya fine!” Then she knelt to get in level with her ponyself before her grin turned back into a normal smile, eyeing the pony in front of her. “Hey there, Applejack.” Pony Applejack never understood this for a few seconds but she grinned the moment she realized it, galloped right at her human counterpart with a tear leaving her eye before putting her hoof around the human’s shoulder to hug. Immediately, the pony felt her own magic along with her human self. And as the human self knew it, she hugged back and felt her ponyself sharing magic with her own… Even the Human Applejack was crying while smiling. The country girl stayed in a hug for a while with her pony counterpart. “I can’t believe it… It’s like we’re a complete match… You’re actually Twilight’s friend? In Equestria?” Pony Applejack knew just what to answer. “Twilight’s told me all about ya, other me. But I didn’t see this comin’.” Twilight was only watching from afar while Princess Luna was right beside her. She heard both Applejacks laugh in enjoyment and already figured they were finding common ground now that they’ve seen and greeted each other. “They seem happy together,” Luna said. “And they’re actually sharing magic.” “This is a fantastic event, Princess Luna.” Twilight spoke as she looked at the Applejack pair with a serious face. “But with what’s happening right now, who knows how the other human counterparts would meet with their ponyselves? This is only Applejack meeting a pony of her own identity. There’s still Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash. If Princess Celestia is really able to help on this, we could really have everyone realize their true potential.” “And what about YOUR counterpart, Twilight?” Luna asked this as she eyed the Princess of Friendship. “Don’t forget you have yet to talk to her after she left her school.” “Yeah,” Twilight replies with a frown. “If only I could get to her, but I think she stopped listening to Sunset. Who knows what she’s like right now? If only I didn’t stress the difference between the two of us… ” “As much as I’d like to agree to your logic, it’s still not your fault. Her own pursuit of envy was the thing that drove her and misinterpreted your advice in regards to her place in her circle of friends. Remember: She’s just as a stubborn as you are. She’d see her way back to her circle of friends soon.” Luna looked at the two Applejacks. “It’s only a matter of time,” she muttered loudly. Twilight sighed in defeat as she looked at the two Applejacks now just talking to each other. “You know me too well, don’t you, Luna? Well… I believe so too. Even if her mind is steered by Midnight Sparkle-” She groaned, as if she didn’t feel she said the right words. “No. I believe this other me knows how to control her emotions and steer herself back, with power or not.” “How do you know?” “Because one thing was clear from her after I knew about her place in her circle of friends. She’s willing to give what she’s got to be not just of value, but to have a place in their circle. She’s looking for more than just the friendship she knows she still has, but as well as… recognition.” Luna raised an eyebrow looking at Twilight. “Won’t that complicate things a bit?” “I know. That’s why Sunset’s close to the other me… quite close that she’d get under Twilight’s skin.” And Twilight winced before looking at Luna, gently glaring. “Sorry!! Human me has Midnight Sparkle in her too, so there’s that!” Twilight laughed nervously looking back at the two Applejacks at a distance. Luna shook her head and looked back towards the orchard barn as well. “It might be appropriate. I hope you’re right. If this Midnight Sparkle truly is dangerous, it could get interesting for Sunset.” Twilight sighed at this. “That’s what I’m worried about.” At the human dimension, little chuckles coming from Twilight came onto the night as the village was in flames. Some people were running away from figures of shadows that were attacking them. One by one people were being stopped from behind as shadow tentacles pulled them to their doom: Shadows that looked physically like monsters, now more than eight feet tall, and there were 4 of them. The shadow monsters growled as they pulled their tentacles into consume their victims and each tentacle came from their mouths. Their eyes, terrifying and colored yellow stared at their victims before they gave in before being consumed. Other villagers used pitchforks to fight the monsters only to be easily subdued by the monster’s multiple tentacles. Then when they heard Twilight’s chuckle, they all turned to one direction. Twilight was walking in her powered form having lavender flames on her hands by her sides while wearing a mask around her eyes that were also made from flames. She stopped as the monsters took interest into her and growled at her. “Hello, troublemakers. What are you, really?” She asked with a curious tone before her pupils shrank while turning to a glowing lavender pair, and her smile turned into a grin. “WON’T YOU LIKE TO BE STUDIED?” She said those words, amplifying her voice with an echo startling the monsters before they all growled at her. “COME AT ME!” Twilight then spread her wings and flew up before she saw the monsters charged at her. She laughed boisterously before swinging her arm at them and releasing a flame wave slicing right at two monsters attacking her and groaned in pain. And Twilight was in the battle of her life, evading and blocking attempts from monsters to subdue her in their tentacles, only for those tentacles to be burned by her counter-attacks. She got terrifyingly close to each one of them at a short time to deliver critical blows. There was even a time she was standing still when one of the injured monsters charged at her. She simply smiled and let her magic work inside her attacker until it bursts into flames from the inside, letting it briefly groan in pain before stopping and dying. The other monsters weren’t so lucky either, only barely putting a scratch on Twilight before they were all defeated in the village. When the battle was over, one of the villagers, a 62 year old male came out from the sidelines beside one of the ruined houses. He saw the teenage costumed girl descend to the ground and approached her on his knees crying out. “Oh, please! Please! Please help me! My family’s gone! I don’t know what to do…!” Twilight then saw the old man reach with his two wrinkly hands before gently slapping them, before glaring at his eyes. She no longer had her eyes glowing and was normal was she was doing this. “I don’t want you to feel scared. Maybe you could have run off. The rest of the houses are burning.” “Please… I…” The old man tried to speak out more but he heard screams coming from one of the burning houses. “Oh my!! Frieda! My daughter’s still alive!! I need help!” Snorting, Twilight began to go past the old man in her annoyance and looked towards the house. Putting her hand out and pointing it to the house, she concentrated her magic. A few seconds later, the fire was beginning to get attracted until all the flames from the same house and the neighboring houses were gone. Twilight felt the heat of the flames on her hand as it formed into a ball. She then threw the fireball towards a safe space just before it exploded. She then enters the partially smoking house while covering her mouth. “Now where are they?” she thought. Just several seconds later, the old man saw the costumed girl walk out and was even followed by a woman in her twenties levitating behind her savior. Frieda was then lowered just before she ran towards the old man and hugged him while getting on her knees. “Oh, Frieda…” Twilight was seeing the old man hug the woman just before she attempted to hover off with her magic when she was called out. She hovered in place to look and recognize at the old man by his voice. “I don’t like to be recognized.” “No, it’s just… You saved us.” The old man looked around and listened and noticed there were sirens from a distance heard as an echo. “There’s no way we could repay you, but I would rather try if you will allow me.” Twilight knew the man was sincere but she had a saddened emotion. “I don’t think I’d easily allow myself to accept. Thank you, but… I tread a dark road right now. You don’t need to repay me.” She looked away, replying further, “You can say I have a conscience for not making anyone-” “PLEASE!!!” The old man got on his knees as he walked with them to the girl who hovered. “Please, Frieda needs this. She needs… She needs a new life to start with! I don’t know who else to turn to but you!” “Dad…” Frieda muttered her response. And Twilight had a good look at Frieda having dark green hair and orange natural eyes. Being in her twenties, Twilight figured Frieda would have some future. Would that work out with Twilight? Finally after Twilight thought of it, she replied and looked at the young woman. “Frieda is it? You think you could help me with moving stuff? And… I might need a lab assistant.” Frieda gulped, sensing twilight’s sternness towards her. “Laboratory? Are you a doctor or scientist?” “You can say I’m a scientist.” Twilight replied with a smirk before reaching her hand to Frieda. “So… If you really want to make use of your time, make use of it with me. Good thing your old man was wise.” As Frieda finally took Twilight’s hand, Frieda hovered next to Twilight just before the two of them flew up high in the night. And Twilight closed her eyes, worked a certain magic in the air while telling Frieda in magic telepathy. “You’re now under the management of Miss Midnight.” “M-Miss Midnight? Wait… Were you in my head just now?” “Technically, yes. There are a lot of things you don’t know about me.” Twilight’s mask then glowed before it faded from her face, revealing her identity. “Call me Twilight when we aren’t meeting in times like this. Nice to meet you, Frieda.” “Um… Are you going to demand so much of me? I’m mostly qualified as a technician. I can’t be that much help if I’m not good in my field.” “We’ll talk specifics later,” Twilight said before she flew them both forward with her magic safely away from the village… The military plane landed on the large airstrip in the middle of the desert-like environment when the sun was just riding. There was a significant number of people in military uniforms watching this as it happened. And about an hour later, two SUV’s left the same guarded airstrip, first travelling onto a dirt road before it found its way to a two-lane major road. Both SUV’s travel in a convoy each travelling its pace of 87 miles an hour. Sunset was in the second SUV riding as a passenger in front while Charlie was driving. Applejack was sleeping at the back peacefully with a pillow and her hat on her face. But even Sunset felt a little unsure of this plan herself. She imagined how it went with Charlie when she decided to take Applejack along anyway with their conversation before they landed… “I’m serious,” Sunset said. “Princess Twilight told me it’s… sort of a success. With Princess Luna guiding the dream, there’s no doubt Applejack’s gonna turn out better with her powers. The maturity really requires she bonds with her own element.” “So it’s all a matter of waiting?” Charlie asked. “What if this process takes longer than usual? We could lose valuable time here.” “It’s like I said before. We won’t even have her be a problem when we look at the evidence on our dead P.I., okay?” Sunset remembered she told Charlie that, but now she feels unsure, with Applejack still asleep at the back. She felt the wind from outside as the SUV travelled its pace with her window down. Sighing, she began to ask. “Charlie, what do you think we’d find on… that body?” “Hopefully something that tells us what really chopped him,” replied Charlie keeping his eyes on the road. “I had the Agency scour for dark magic experts and only one in particular came up. Goth boy, your age, probably.” “Goth boy? Hm.” Sunset looked briefly at him before looking straight to the road with the front SUV on view. “I can get a goth knowing one angle of magic, but what makes you think he’s dependable?” “Well for one thing, I’ve been given information about how he sees pretty shady auras in people. Those auras cause acts of evil in future events and that pretty much gave us the motivation to get him. The range we gave him was a week, and we made sure he’s in a room where he can’t communicate, which he never minded. He really helped us out. “Some of those events he predicted days ago just matched. We not only got him comfy for our sake, but we had to make sure we get his trust for us to really get him on our side.” But Sunset wasn’t sure about how Charlie thinks of this boy. “You gotta be careful, Charlie. Maybe he’s proving his worth, but you can’t take away the possibility it’s only towards another agenda.” “You mean a boy like him who was willing to help us has a hidden agenda? We would have seen his face or his-” “And you shouldn’t forget that there’s another type of magic meant for masking emotions. I don’t know if he does it, but I can find out for you.” And as Sunset expects after she suggested her idea, he gives her a brief stern look. She rolls her eyes in annoyance knowing what it means. “I know. You don’t like it if I interfere and all. Still, you can’t be too careful." After she responded, she was hearing a familiar voice groan from behind and smiled. Looking behind her, she was seeing Applejack stirring awake while taking the cowboy hat off her face. "Applejack? Hey, you're awake!" Applejack slowly opened her eyes holding her cowboy hat on her hand before sitting on the chair and feeling the vibrations of the SUV. "Ugh... Oh... Are we heading there now?" "Yeah. Good thing you're here when we need you. So... We're heading to a place to meet this boy who's got a grip of magic himself. From what Charlie tells me, the boy could read futures from auras coming out of people. Maybe it could... ours?" Sunset said with the last word coming in form of a question. And Applejack caught Sunset's statement with a reply. "Think so. I think I remembered talking to Princess Twilight about spells... Hm... Dangerous thing to handle the mind." "I'm not saying the boy's psychic-" Sunset stopped and winced. "Wait... Did you say 'Princess' Twilight?! Did you really talk to her?!!" "Yup! She was with me when- Oh! Did ya know I saw myself as a pony?" "Yeah. Princess Twilight gave me a heads up you were bonding with your element." Sunset said this while the two SUV's safely got across a railroad crossing. Then she saw two connecting towns some miles ahead in the horizon. "Hm... Is that Starleaf Town?" Charlie looked at the distant town ahead while making a minor turn together with the leading SUV ahead of what he drove. "Yeah, that's Starleaf. Known for accumulating small amounts of solar energy for better purposes. Some of the electric companies there are under privatized corporations utilizing other natural resources as part of the energy input. Starleaf Town is... Well, it's just starting to bloom but it's not a city since there's a need for population and income increase here." "So this is where we'll find our goth boy?" Sunset asked. "Yeah. His name's Conrad Harley. His friends however call him Silvergate." "Silvergate?" Applejack butted in. "Sounds likes crazy doohickey to me. Reputation?" "You're right. He's made a name for himself before we found him." "Then I say let's be careful," said Applejack relaxing her back on the long leather seat. "Is he alone?" "Not quite," Sunset replied. "He's under guard by some agents. And the safehouse we're getting to probably has CSI staff." "Crime scene... It really makes me think this ain't so simple, Sunset. Let's be careful anyway." Applejack's advice sticks to Sunset. Meanwhile, Charlie was suddenly vigilant. He had his earpiece on him and he was glaring at his left and right. Sunset noticed Charlie's behavior. "Charlie?" Charlie groaned. "Sunset, Vic 1's reported that the safehouse stopped responding. A comms team there was supposed to report every fifteen minutes." "Hm... If the Agency has any people who are lazy-" "Hey, they're disciplined enough." Charlie glared briefly at Sunset before looking towards the road and seeing the lead SUV pull over to a car park that belonged to a motel. Charlie drove the SUV and parked it just beside the lead one before he applied the handbrake. "Sunset, we're gonna have to be careful on this one. Agency assets are... Well... They're hours away from this place. Get out." As he said it, he unfastened his seatbelt and opened the driver-side door, followed by Sunset and Applejack. He then approached one of the agents from the parked lead SUV. And he recognized him as Agent Chadwick. "Chadwick, anything?" Chadwick turned away from his fellow agents from his group and turned to Charlie and his company. "Charlie, still no radio contact. Hughes was able to tap in to the surveillance cameras." "And?" "That's what weird." Chadwick replied and another agent beside him gave him a tablet with screen just before showing Charlie a video. "Take a look." Charlie took the tablet and held it up for Sunset and Applejack to see. They saw the video was showing the image of some sort of makeshift examination room, with the operating table in the middle and on it was a body covered in a blanket. The camera the image was showing from was only placed on high corner. The image was disturbing. There were two bodies on the floor, with one wearing a black suit and the other wearing a white science uniform. The bodies seemed to be unconscious. There was a steel door nearby that was closed but was later opened up by an agent. But as the agent was quickly closing the door, the agent was suddenly hit by spikes entering through his face, and his whole body had gone limp before he fell backwards and hitting the floor dead. This was before a mass of black goo that was sentient and formless came through the steel door just before it wrapped itself around the operating table and the blanketed body. It then spread around the room even covering the camera lens that recorded the whole thing. The video then showed a static image. Chadwick gently pulled away the tablet. “And that was recorded 10 minutes ago.” “That was the examination room,” Charlie said. “If the comms team had gone dark, wait… That’s impossible. Imagine how fast you’d be able to subdue the comms team, and… The entrances… It’s guarded and it’s to make sure the right people come in. Can’t believe this- SON OF A-!” He couldn’t continue and he slammed both hands of the nearby SUV. “Whatever that hell that is, it’s got control of the safehouse!!!” “And soon, I will have control of you.” A teenage boy’s voice echoed from below in an echo. Then Charlie realized something with what he saw. Near the SUV’s were sewer drainages. “The examination room’s-” “-got DRAINS!!!” Chadwick completed Charlie’s sentence and drew out a pistol he kept as a sidearm to point it at the sewer only for sharp objects to pass through the holes of the drains, forming multiple spikes hitting his chest. There was so much that three were close to his heart. He stepped back and gasped in pain before screaming, just before a massive amount of black goo came out of the drainage system, pushing everyone back, and even covering the SUV’s in it. They all saw as they collided on the floor that the goo had towered over them, 10 feet in height and about 7 feet wide in mass. It even threw an SUV upwards they thought it had consumed with its body. It crashed on another travelling car on the road. Soon, the other civilians driving cars were alerted and startled, making them stop to look at the goo-monster. Those at the sidewalk saw it all and some screamed before running away from the scene. Charlie immediately pulled Chadwick back to his parked SUV hearing his cries in pain with those spikes still in his chest. He doesn’t have his sidearm with him since he was hit hard. “Hang on, Chadwick! You’re gonna be okay!” Meanwhile, Applejack led Sunset and were just beside Charlie and Chadwick. “What in tarnation is that?!” “How should I know?!” Charlie replied later hearing gunshots and recognized the automatic fire from MP5’s before peeking his head. Agents were shooting at the goo monster only to get showered with spikes. One of the agents got too wounded and lost his life while the others too cover in another of the SUV’s. They didn’t dare fire back at the goo monster firing more of those spikes. Then it looked like the goo monster was showing a face in the middle of the mass. And out came a teenage boy with black lipstick and fangs for teeth. He had black eyes as he looked around. And when Charlie realized the boy looked at him, he was enraged. He knew who it was. He then opened the nearest door of the SUV he was near to before drawing an MP5 himself, checked for ammo and peeked out of the rear corner and took a good look of the monster and boy who controlled. “CONRAD!!! YOU SON OF A BITCH!!! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!!!” Conrad chuckled as he looked at Charlie, even making the goo monster’s body turn to him. “Aw, you must relax. This won’t hurt a bit! Charlie, I wanted this.” “After what we’ve done for you?!! WHY?!” Charlie demanded answers while he kept his SMG aimed at Conrad’s head. “You don’t care about dying, do you?!!!” “Maybe you should die here, Charlie. You? Do things for me? You shouldn’t have. In fact, I wish you never should have! It made me look like I’m dependent! Because really, that’s what your bosses did! They overdid it and I lost my reputation as the greatest magic observer and analyst! Now, I got nothing. With this Dead P.I.’s body now part of the mass, I can finally be independent! I don’t need your help! I can gather as much magic as I can!!!” “NO WAY!!” Sunset couldn’t stand what Conrad was saying and stood beside Charlie. She heard him warn her not to do it, but Sunset didn’t listen and glared at the goo monster. “Conrad, you can’t do this! Whatever you think about what magic does for you like provide power and make you independent… That’s not how it works!! You still need those who understand it!” “Hmph,” Conrad snorted. “I can sense past conflict from you. You once felt power was everything to you. But you threw it away, all because of… friendship!” Charlie noticed Sunset was surprised and he even saw her look at him. “Remember. Conrad knows the aura of every person he’s in range with. He probably read yours too.” Conrad grinned showing more of his fangs. “Admit it! You want it back! Isn’t that right?!” Sunset glared at Conrad. “No. I was way past that. Wanting power and things you thought you’d need only to hurt others? I saw my monster when I thought about it, even when I wasn’t with any of my friends. It isn’t the answer to how I’d live. I was looking for… somewhere to belong.” She stepped forward. “What are you doing?!” Charlie kept the aim of his SMG at Conrad. But Sunset ignored him and continued to speak at Conrad. “Conrad, you’ve got to let this go. This isn’t you.” Conrad only looked for a while at Sunset before maniacally laughing at her. “ARE YOU CRAZY, YOU BITCH?!!! This is exactly what I was after! I just didn’t know how to get it! Thanks to uncontrolled shadow magic which I can control, I can actually do something for a change!” Sunset gritted her teeth, half-expecting her words wouldn’t get through to him. “Then what do you want?” Charlie briefly looked beside him, seeing Chadwick who was hanging on as he was trying to stay awake. But as he looked at where Applejack was supposed to be, she was nowhere to be found. “What the hell-? Applejack?!!!” Conrad chuckled evilly and approached Sunset. “Well, I want to be the greatest villain who ever lived. I want my story to spread. Once upon a time, I was weak, and I live happily ever after as a hulking beast! This is exactly what I want! Now… I get to show you exactly how!!!” Conrad then made black spikes shoot out of his giant goo body before Sunset deflected them with a magic shield. “Oh? So you really want to do this?” Sunset chuckled before magic started to work around her body, slowly transforming her and it paced itself. “I do. You know what? I don’t mind either. I feel you, but I feel more of the people around me. I hurt people back then, and I won’t allow you to do the same.” She smiled and closed her eyes, letting more of her magic work around her, transforming her clothes and putting a longer ponytail. Eventually when she finished, she opened her eyes and looked at Conrad. “So… What about it?” Conrad’s head tilted and he looked at a mother running away pushing a stroller. “What about no?” He then fired spikes at the mother pushing the stroller. “NO!!” Sunset shouted just before she saw a miraculous event as a broken-down SUV was put in the way of the spikes on the road. It stopped the spikes and she looked at the new figure who came in. She saw Applejack walked in her ponied-up form like she was. “Applejack!!” Applejack nodded at Sunset and glared at Conrad. “While you two we’re having a great talk, I had to get the people from the motel outta there before you could hurt anyone else.” She briefly looked at the mother who was saved and she whispered a ‘thank you’ before running away. “If this the way you gotta be, then you gotta be taught the hard way. Too bad there’s only two of us.” She ran to the side of the SUV that wasn’t hit with spikes before doing a maneuver to quickly jump and kick the SUV, throwing it towards the goo monster. Seeing the goo monster hit with the SUV, it collides with the motel’s hard walls, even squishing the goo monster. Applejack stood to see what happened. “Cause that’s more than enough,” she muttered. “IT WOULD TAKE MORE THAN YOUR POWERS!!” Conrad’s enraged voice echoed before the battered SUV was thrown back at Applejack. Sunset made it in time to get in front of Applejack and formed two fists, then pushed them forward as the SUV collided with her fists, slicing the SUV in half as the two halves flew in separate directions not colliding with any civilians. Then Sunset realized it herself. “What was that-?” Sunset asked herself in her thoughts before looking at Charlie who was dragging Chadwick out of harm’s way. “We’ll take care of this! Get everyone somewhere safe!!” And she received a nod from Charlie in response. She saw Applejack get beside her and both glared at Conrad who was just re-forming itself into its towering goo monster form. “Looking for more?!” Applejack put her fists together, lightly punching each other as she prepared herself. “Come and get us. We’re right here,” she muttered loudly. Conrad chuckled before hiding his face behind the goo. “This is gonna be fun.” And so began Applejack and Sunset’s battle against the goo monster that day…
