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          Eclipse High School for Gifted Students          
                    -by GalaxyGirl0917-                    
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                      Prologue: Night                      
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Prologue: Night
"Sister, please!" Celeste begged. "It was just an election!" She tugged at her sparkly pastel sunset/sunrise-colored braid.
Tears were running down her sister's face. "It is done, then," Luna said. "I always told you they liked you more than me. Didn't I? Didn't I?!"
"You did," Celeste acquiesced, "but that doesn't mean you have to leave me! I can't watch this city - be its mayor - without you by my side! You keep me going!"
Luna huffed, trying not to listen to the voice of reason in her head. "You ignored me when I told you! When I said what I was becoming!"
Celeste was openly sobbing now. "I admit that I was foolish back then - you have to understand, Luna, that anyone would have thought you were talking nonsense! Magic! Superpowers! Corruption! And that was when you had just recovered from your injuries - anyone would've assumed that you were delusional!"
"But you're my sister," said Luna, with such heartache in her voice that Celeste flinched. "We were supposed to be by each other's side - support one another - trust each other until the end of our days." Her galaxy-colored hair slowly started to turn navy blue, a fact which did not go unnoticed by Celeste.
"Luna! Your hair!" she gasped out. She had accepted the fact that Luna was being corrupted, but that didn't make it any less scary to see her baby sister's hair turn before her own eyes. When she met Luna's eyes, she screamed and stumbled backwards, crashing into the coffee table.
Luna's eyes were draconic.
"Sister . . ." Luna stalked towards Celeste, who was trembling on the floor. "You are now the twice-elected mayor of New Camelot, the biggest city in the world. Won against your younger sister, beloved by all. How would you like it if the citizens, under your watch, started disappearing . . . one. By. One?"
"Never," Celeste said, eyes blazing. "I will protect my people. I do not know what has happened to you, Luna, but you need to fight against it! Please! You're not Luna anymore!"
The monster smirked. "Why should I? This is the best I've felt in years! Always is your shadow - and now I'm more powerful than you!"
She laughed wildly.
"P-powerful?" Celeste stammered.
"Oh, sister," the monster said, shaking her head pityingly. "You still have't figured it out, have you? Well, I supposed you never will." She raised her hands and clasped them above her head, a black aura around them. "Give my regards to mother and father."
As she brought them down, thought, Celeste grabbed her charm bracelet, with six charms on them. She remembered what her mother had told her: In your time of need, they will help you.
Mother, father, save me. Please.
To her shock, the six gems enlarged to as big as her hand, and started circling around her. Suddenly, Celeste knew what she had to do, and it broked her heart. She could almost hear it shatter. "Don't do this!" she begged. "Don't make me hurt you! I love you!"
For a minute, the monster's eyes returned to Luna's, and she smiled sadly. "You said it yourself, sister.
"I'm not Luna anymore."
Tears streaming down her face, the gems formed a rainbow of power that countered the monster's own magic. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to break through with the beam of black energy.
But as she focused, the shield around her disappated, and Celeste beamed the magic to the side. The monster's eyes widened. "No. NO. NOOOOOOOOO!"
She was blasted out of the house and into the night sky, never to be seen again.
Celeste collapsed to the floor and sobbed.
She cried as the police came.
She sobbed as they tried to ask her what happened.
She wailed as the gems shrunk and re-attached themselves to her bracelet.
She wept as she was carted off to the hospital for examination.
She wanted to cry as everyone else forgot about it, but she had no tears left.
She would never see her sister again.
Or so she thought.
Author's Note
Okay, to be completely honest, I'm not too happy with the prologue, but after rewriting it at least six times, this is the best I could come up with.
Well, anyway, welcome to my newest story, Eclipse High School for Gifted Students!

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                    Chapter One: Newbie                    
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Chapter One: Newbie
A sleepy little foster brother murmered something incomprehensible as Melissa gave him a goodbye kiss on the top of his head. High schools in the area started much later than elementary schools, after all.
"Raymond! That was certainly not a proper goodbye!" Mrs. Reading scolded.
Ray let out a long-suffering sigh. "Bye, Mel. Good luck on your first day at Eclipse High," he recited. Mel smiled.
"Thanks, Ray."
But Ray had already fallen back asleep.
Melissa smiled fondly as she ran her hand over his spiky green hair. Mrs. Reading kissed her on the cheek. "Good luck, honey," she said. "If anything happens, I'm here, okay?"
"Okay," Melissa said, deflating. She really, really hadn't wanted to transfer, but when the mayor "recommends" something it basically means, "do it," even if she was a personal family friend and Mel's godmother.
She gave her parents big hugs and made her way to her dorm, named India Hall. Each hall was named after a different country, taking the five biggest countries based on economics and dividing the students into them. It was 100 people to a hall, and Eclipse had 503 students, so some dorms had extras.
She had dorm #123, and her dormmate was someone named Kylie, or something like that.
She pushed the door open, and saw a girl with black hair. She turned. "I'm Kylie, we're not friends and will not ever be friends, leave me alone and I'll do the same for you."
Though she wouldn't have put it so harshly, Mel privately agreed with the philosophy and said, "Sure thing."
The movers brought her luggage in, and she thanked them and sent them in their way. Methodically unpacking and aided by the meticulous organizing she had put into packing the boxes, she was done in one hour and collapsed on her bed, which had a purple blanket with a pink starburst on it. She missed her family already.
She sighed and decided to explore the campus, to make sure she wouldn't get lost tomorrow, on the first day of school. Picking up her schedule, she went to find her classes.
Period One: Advanced Social Studies. Room C-1.
She found the C-Wing and found C-1. Marking it in her memory, she continued on.
Period Two: Advanced Science. Room A-2.
Period Three: Advanced Band. Room M-3.
Period Four: Advanced Math. Room C-4.
Period Five: Advanced Language Arts. Room C-5.
Period Six: History. D-6.
Yes, she was taking all advanced classes.
Soon, she had memorized the path to and from each. Briskly walking back to her dorm, she was stopped by a girl who had four inches on her and shockingly pink hair. The girl smiled. "Hi, I'm Mina, and I'm recruiting people to help me plan the Winter Ball! Wanna join, new kid?"
Oh, right. The Winter Ball, the most elite festival in New Camelot, was hosted and planned by high schoolers. Don't look at Mel, it was a tradition reaching far back to before she was born. Eclipse was, after all, an almost ancient school.
Mel shook herself out of her thoughts, and she was going to say no, when she remembered . . . Ray would want her to help. Marcus would want her to help. She sighed. Stupid conscience. She didn't want to make friends!
"Fine," she growled. "What do you need?"
Mel flopped down onto her bed, groaning. Mina had proven herself surprisingly organized for someone so . . . all over the place, and had given Mina a list of four people she needed to check in with. Mina had assured her that she would take care of most everything else, but it seemed that these four oversaw the biggest parts of the ball.
Then Mina had asked for help decorating the ballroom, which proved to be a surprisingly athletic task. for one, a lot of dust had settled there, so she, Mina, and a handful of other people had spent the better part of two hours cleaning it form top to bottom, and Mel meant that literally. They had brought ladders in and cleaned the ceiling! Now Mel understood why the Winter Ball was such a success; Mina and her team really spared no expenses. Mel had developed a begrudging respect for the girl, even if her muscles hurt like Tartarus.
Anyway, it was time to sleep. Kylie was already snoring, and tomorrow was first day of classes. First stop after the school day was over: Jackie Smithson, China Hall, about food. It was going to be fresh and organic from her family farm. Though it was an odd thought, as Mel drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but hope that Jackie wouldn't try and be friends with her.
The next morning found Mel scribbling down copious notes in Social Studies, taught by a Mrs. Carlson, a short old lady who meant well but for some reason really annoyed Mel. Eh, whatever.
She wasn't behind in any of her classes because she had studied during the brief break she had had while moving in and getting the Readings' furniture in order, and all of her teachers were pleased with her. Mel felt warm inside whenever one of them praised her.
Everyone else would check out the new kid, decide she was boring, and then be done with her, which played perfectly into her boring-nerd-who-blends-into-the-background style.
This was because Mel had a secret, and it most certainly wasn't small.
Flashback
"Melissa?" came the soft, sweet voice of the mayor of New Camelot. A five-year-old Mel squealed and ran into the mayor's arms. At the time, she hadn't known of Celeste true standing; just that she was a family friend, sometimes Mel's tutor, and very fun.
"Auntie Celeste!" Mel exclaimed, but then she sobered. She had never seen the grave look on Celeste's face now before; in fact, the mayor looking like she was feeling any negative emotion was a rare, rare sight. "Auntie Celeste?"
Celeste sighed. "Mel, I want you to listen to me, and to listen well. This is a burden no five-year-old should bear, but I feel . . . it inside of you, the most powerful case I have felt in ages. So know this: should I ever go missing, take this bracelet." She carefully placed a platinum-chain bracelet in Mel's hands. "It will help you in your time of need. Find the charms, and it will help you. I have hidden them in places that no one will find excepting you, in case I ever go missing. Okay?"
Mel understood. Though she did act like a normal five-year-old, she was smarter than her years even then. "Okay, Auntie Celeste. Can I tell Mommy and Daddy?"
Celeste eyes crinkled with sadness. "I'm afraid not, little one," she said as her voice dropped to a whisper. "Only when you find the others can you tell, and only them."
"Who're the others?" young Mel asked.
Auntie Celeste sighed again. "You will know when you meet them."
"But what is it, Auntie?"
". . . my most educated analysis, with all means of science and technology in mind, is that it's magic . . ."*
"Miss Reading!"
Mel snapped out of her flashback and flicked her eyes towards the teacher. "Yes, Mr. Murphy?" she asked respectfully, twisting her bracelet to cover her annoyance.
"When did World War II start?" he fired at her.
"September 1st, 1939," Mel said evenly.
Mr. Murphy blinked, but then sighed and nodded. "Please try to pay more attention in class next time, Miss Reading."
Mel voiced her assent, and soon she found herself walking out of the classroom. After she dropped off her stuff at the dorm, she set off to find Jacqueline.
"Hello. My name's Melissa, and I'm part of the organizing committee for the Winter Ball. I understand you're in charge of the food?"
The six-foot tall girl smiled. "Sure am. What can Ah do ya for?"
Mel tried to ignore the obvious breach of grammar and plastered on what she hoped was a friendly smile. "May I sample some of the things you're planning to make for the ball? And I want to know all the foods you're going to be making."
"'Course, but most of mah things are at mah family farm, a few hours from here. We can go there, if ya want."
Mel sighed. She absolutely hated long drives, but it was a necessity this time. "Sure."
Jackie, as she had insisted upon being called, smiled. "Great!"
So they took buses until they got to Jackie's farm, Sweet Apple Acres. "We grow all sorts of things, but our main export is apples," Jackie explained as they walked through the gates.
As they walked, Mel reflected on the day and yesterday. Both girls - Mina and Jackie - had ignited something inside her when she had spoken to them, a small spark.
Mel was not a fool. She knew that this meant something, that it meant something big, but what? The charm bracelet burned against her skin, calling her.
You will know when you meet them.
Three out of six.
Three more to go.
Author's Note
Ray is Spike and Marcus is Shining Armor, just saying. So, how do you like my take on the Humane Six? I was thinking that instead of what's shown in the link in the long description, Pinkie would be a mix of all races, since she's a jack of all trades. If you don't agree with my choices and are going to hate on me because of that, you are welcome to leave anytime.
To the rest of you, hello and welcome.
*A quote from the book series The Land of Stories. It's a great read and I totally recommend it.

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                  Chapter Two: Party Girl                  
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Chapter Two: Party Girl
Mina hummed to herself as she lined the edge of the stage with paper snowflakes, pondering the events of the past two days. She liked the new kid well enough, but to be, honest, Mel worried Mina. She seemed to be eternally sad about something, and even a few of Mina's classic jokes hadn't been enough to break through the barrier.
She had also noticed that Mel kept fidgeting with her bracelet, and figured that it was something important ot her, possibly a family heirloom. When she had asked about it, though, Mel had completely clammed up and refused to say a word about it.
Mina loved to make people happy. It was her life's calling, and even if it was just smiling at someone and them smiling in return, Mina felt a warmth in her heart she couldn't find anywhere else. Because of this, when she found someone she couldn't make happy, it simultaneously thrilled her with the challenge and saddened her. In short, she was determined to help Mel.
To most people, Mina was just a crazy party girl, carefree and happy and not serious at all, but Mina was actually more perceptive than anyone thought. Sure, she was carefree and happy, but that was just because she found no reason in her life to be serious and sad. Between her great family, job at Sugarcube Corner (run by Martha and Franklin Baker), and good friends, she didn't want for anything.
In the right circumstances, though, she could be a completely different girl, and this was one of those times.
Not only was Mel sad about something, the girl absolutely reeked of secrets. While she wouldn't mind knowing what those particular secrets were, holding all of them inside without anyone to confide them into couldn't be healthy.
If Mina's baking career didn't work out, she planned to be a psyhcologist.
"So, what did you think of Melissa?" Mina asked. Jackie shifted uncomfortably under her intense gaze.
"Ah . . . Ah thought she was nice, very professional, a bit cold, ya know, but we've barely known each other fer a day."
"Do you think she was nice?"
"Good enough."
"Canyouhelpmebeherfriend?" Mina fired quickly.
Jackie blinked. "Com again?"
"Can you help me be her friend?" Mina asked, more slowly this time.
"Why?"
"Because she seemed sad!"
Jackie paused, sighed, muttered something about her stupid conscience, and agreed.
Mina beamed.
"Heeeeeeey, Mel!"
The girl in question let out a long-suffering sigh and turned around. "Yes?"
"What've you done so far?"
"I've talked to Applejack, and after school today I'm going to talk to . . . who was it? Iris Deanne Lee?"
"Great!" Mina chirped. "Do you want to meet up with Jackie and I at Sugarcube Corner afterwards? If you don't know where that is, I can tell you. I work there, so I'll probably be able to get us drinks free."
Mel gave a genuine, albeit weak, smile. "I know where that is. In fact, it's one of my favorite relaxation places. What time?"
"How 'bout five?"
"Great."
Operation Make Friends with the New Girl was a-go.
"Minaaaaaa!" came a voice from the entrance of the ballroom.
Mina made a face to herself and descended the ladder to greet Iris, who was standing at the entrance to the ballroom. She personally thought that Iris was a bit of a braggart (just because she was the captain of the track team and had always won a race didn't mean she should bring it up every second!), but that was neither here nor there. "Yes?"
"Why'd you send that annoying new girl after my behind? I told you, I have the guest list under control!"
"For one thing," Mina said icily, "she is not annoying. For another thing, she's our event organizer/coordinatior and it was her job to go after you."
Iris rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I overheard Jackie telling her younger sister that you, the new girl, and her were going to Sugarcube Corner together. Why?"
Mina sighed. "Like it's your business."
"Tell me or I'll ask Jackie, and we all know she can't tell a lie for some weird reason."
"We're trying to make friends with her. She seems sad, don't you think?"
"Yeah, yeah," Iris said, flapping a hand. Then she paused to think. "You know what? I'll come with."
Mina tried not to gasp. Then she spotted Sophia Belmont across the ballroom, decorating with the rest of the fashion club. Soph was a likable enough character; maybe she would help in breaking through Mel's icy exterior. Fetching Jackie, she made her way to the French girl.
"Hi, Soph!" Mina greeted, her demeanor going from exasperated to cheerful in seconds. The other girls looked at her oddly. Sophia held up a graceful finger. "One second, my dear. I must get this exactly right." She was trying to decide on the perfect bow for a certain column. "Hmm . . . no. Hmm . . . definitely not. Ah . . . heavens, no! Perfect!" She tied a red-and-green checkered one onto the column with a flourish, brushing it with a bit of glitter. "Sparkle makes everything better, don't you think?"
"Yuperdoodle!" Mina agreed.
"Now," she said, turning to face the trio, "what can I do for you?"
"Well, there's this new girl, Melissa, who doesn't have any friends," Mina explained in a rush. "We wanted to get to know her better, so we invited her to Sugarcube Corner. We were wondering if you would like to come?"
Sophia surveyed the other girls and wrinkled her nose delicately. "I usually don't associate myself with such . . . company, but perhaps I can do it. Do you know of her social standing?" she inquired.
"Uh . . . her name is Melissa Aurora Reading?" Mina offered weakly.
A new sparkle got into Sophia's eyes. "Why, the Readings! You don't say? Of course I'll come!"
"Great!" Mina said cheerfully, though she couldn't help but feel that Sophia had an ulterior motive. Eh. It was probably nothing, though life experiences had taught her to teach her instincts . . .
They all piled into her car and drove to Sugarcube Corner. Getting out, Mina saw that Melissa was standing in front of the store. "Hi!" she said.
"Hey," Mel said. "I wasn't aware that you were bringing more people than Jackie."
"I wasn't aware, either," Mina told her. "But it just kinda happened."
Mel shrugged. "I can go with that. Shall we-"
"Who even uses the word 'shall' anymore?" Iris butted in.
"People of good taste, manners, and grammar do, Iris," Sophia said frostily. "Which I am now assured that you do not possess."
Iris flushed and fell silent. They all awkwardly shuffled into the store and Jackie found a seat while the rest of them ordered. "I'll have a strawberry smoothie!" Mina said.
"That Twilight Smoothie sounds good," Mel commented.
"I'll have the Rainbow one," Iris said, grinning.
"Jackie wanted an apple fritter, while I will take the daily special," Sophia ordered.
After getting their stuff, they all awkwardly sat at the table, not saying anything. Mina was desperate to start a conversation. "So," she asked casually. "What's that charm bracelet?"
Author's Note
Yeah, so . . .
My update schedule is and will be a bit erratic, because where I live it's midwinter break and we're visiting family across the country so my dear mother won't let me sit with my laptop while we're there. I'll try to update as frequently as I can, but expect the updates to be far between.
Thanks for understanding! :pinkiehappy: https://static.fimfiction.net/images/emoticons/pinkiehappy.png

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                Chapter Three: Country Gal                 
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Chapter Three: Country Gal
Mel flinched violently and clasped her hand over the bracelet. Everyone stared at her.
Jackie didn't quite know what to think. After her pa died, whenever anyone had asked her about her hat then she would've reacted in the same way. Perhaps the bracelet was given to her by one that had recently passed? An empty charm bracelet . . . how mysterious.
Jackie shoved that thought out of her mind and smiled reassuringly at the purple-haired girl. "Hey, it's okay," she said. "Ya don't have to tell us 'bout it if ya don't want ta."
Mel took a shaky breath and nodded firmly. "I don't want to."
Great job, Mina, Jackie thought exasperatedly. Leave it to the pink-haired girl to ask the very question that would mess up her own mission.
Mina blushed as if she had read Jackie's mind. Sophia leaned forward. "I understand that your family are personal friends of the mayor."
Jackie shook her head in disgust. So that had been the reason Sophia had joined. Jackie had been surprised when she had agreed and suspicious of the light in her eyes, but ever hopeful, she thought that Sophia had a change of heart. Apparently, all the girl wanted to do was get in with the Canterlot elite. Typical; Sophia had never been one to associate with someone outside of her inner circle, AKA the fashion group.
Mel offered a half-smile. "Yeah, my brother's head of the police force, which was how our families got to know each other."
"Great! You know, dear . . ." Sophia ran a critical eye over her. "With a bit of a makeover, I could turn you into a shining star!"
Mel flushed lightly and tucked a stray strand of pink hair behind her ear. "I'm perfectly happy with the way I look right now," she told Sophia.
Tell her, Mel! Jackie cheered internally. She and Sophia had . . . never really seen eye-to-eye, was the most delicate way to put it. Okay, so Sophia had an ulterior motive for this. Jackie turned her eye to the remaining two girls; Mina didn't really seem to have one, but Jackie would bet her Stetson that Iris did.
She narrowed her eyes and turned her focus back to the conversation.
"Aunt Celeste is awesome, kind, and beautiful," Mel told Sophia. "So naturally it was surprising when we found out she was addicted to cake."
Sophia snickered. "Really?"
"Really," Mel confirmed. "She's more partial to vanilla, but she wouldn't say no to any other flavor. It's a running joke between us."
Sophia's eyes sparkled and Jackie sighed. She would milk Mel for all the gossip she had, then carefully give it out to increase her social standing in New Camelot. Sophia was usually a kind and generous person, but Jackie had personally seen it happen before. The girl would do anything to get in with the Camelot elite, and the scent of innocence was literally rolling off of Mel in waves. If she got betrayed like that, she might never open up again.
Jackie couldn't let that happen and not-so-smoothly cut into the conversation. "So, Mel . . . whaddya like ta do in your free time?"
Mel turned her focus to her and smiled shyly. "I like to read and work on experiments," she said.
Oh, another one of those smart types. "I mostly like to help out on the farm," she said. "What about you, Sophia?" she asked, trying to keep things civilized.
"Well, I enjoy much more civilized things. For one, I consider myself an expert in fashion" - here her eyes lit up - "and I've opened my own boutique called the Carousel Boutique, featuring many of my own creations."
While the may not see eye-to-eye, Jackie had to admit that the girl had a good work ethic and business sense. She wouldn't mind having her work on the farm from time to time if she weren't such a stuck-up snob. "Workin' on a farm is just as civilized as makin' dresses," she told Sophia.
Sophia sniffed but didn't contradict her.
"What about you, Iris?" Mel asked, cutting through the tension that had perfumed the air.
"Mostly sports," Iris said absently.
"Okay. You, Mina?"
Mina grinned and took a deep breath. "Well . . ."
Jackie, Sophia, and Iris all traded loaded glances and prepared themselves for the oncoming rant.
Jackie hummed to herself as she pulled a random red checkered tank top on. "JACKIE, OPEN UP!" her younger sister yelled. There went her good mood.
"YOU PLANT YOUR LITTLE BEHIND ON THE BED AND WAIT, SAM!" Jackie yelled back. Samantha Olivia, her younger sister, was in elementary school and very annoying - sometimes, at least. Jackie could hear an audible huff as Sam stomped off to her room.
Wrestling on her shorts, she came out of the bathroom and smirked at Sam when she passed her. Sam just glared.
Jackie bounced downstairs, and her stomach grumbled with the promising smell of good food. "Good morning, Granny," she greeted as she sat down and served herself some bacon and eggs.
"Good mornin', Jackie," her granny said with a smile. "D'ya know where that big brother of yours went off to?"
James Ferdinand Smithson II was Jackie's older brother. He didn't talk much, but he was a good worker, big and strong and comforting when his sisters needed him. He became more of a father figure than anything when Jackie's pa died. He walked in now, offering an easy smile to his sister and grandmother and taking a plate. Sam bounced down the stairs, glaring at Jackie.
After breakfast, they took the bus into the city and went to school.
Currently Jackie was munching on an apple on top of the big horse statue in the courtyard of Eclipse - the one that no one was supposed to climb but everyone did anyway - and chatting with her cousin, Brent. He was from the suburbs outside of Austin, Texas.
"Um, Jackie?" came a quiet voice from the base of the statue. Anyone else wouldn't have heard it, but Jackie did and she leaned over the side.
"Yeah, Angelina?"
"Um, Melissa approached me during lunch about the music, and after I heard Mina say something about making friends with her, and-and I want to help."
"Really?" Jackie asked, a bit surprised. Angelina was usually very shy and didn't talk to much of anyone, and this was completely out of the blue.
"Yes." Angelina nodded firmly, like she was trying to convince herself. "I want to do this. I want to help her."
Jackie softened. No matter how shy she was, Angelina always tried to help people. It was in her nature. "'Course ya can, sugarcube," she said. "I'll tell Mina, or do ya want to?"
"I can," Angelina said.
It warmed Jackie's heart to know that even somone as shy as Angelina could conquer her fears to help one. You saw so little human kindness in the world anymore that it was nice to see it once in a while.
She was snapped out of her thoughts by a notification on her phone from her news app:
BREAKING NEWS: MAYOR OF NEW CAMELOT CELESTE KING KIDNAPPED!
Author's Note
I've always viewed Applejack/Jackie as the Mom Friend of the Mane Six, so I tried to delve more into that side of her in this story. Brent is Braeburn; I couldn't really think of anyone else Jackie would be talking to other than the Mane Six, and since they're not friends yet that wouldn't make sense.

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                Chapter Four: Athletic Kid                 
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Chapter Four: Athletic Kid
Iris was running.
Run, run, run. That was all she ever did.
Away from her over-imposing parents, the stupid "elite" athletic group of Eclipse City named the Wonderbolts who always teased her (not that she idolized them), that girl with the purple hair - Tina Hawk, her name was? - who was her (very enthusiastic) fangirl.
Running was her escape. When she ran, she could take all her problems and shove them into her legs, to run and run and run. That was why she had set the record for the track team; it was her secret technique. She had come to the field the first time her parents had had an argument - a really, really big one. She ran so fast, people swore that they could see a rainbow-colored streak behind her, an aftereffect of her hair.
Iris was sure it was an illusion, but sometimes she couldn't help but wonder . . .
She ran faster. A small crowd had gathered now, witnessing Eclipse High's latest legend, not that there was any shortage of them.
Faster, faster, faster, faster.
Your father is a dick!
Faster.
Your mother is a bitch!
Faster.
Hey, Crash! You think you'll get into the Wonderbolts? Nah. That spot's mine!
Faster.
Yo, Dash, why'd you drop outta the Griffin Gang?
Dunno. Maybe I'll rejoin.
Faster.
Uneasy murmuring broke out amongst the crowd. That was when Iris noticed the mach cone.
Of course, that had had to be when her phone. Slowing, Iris came to a stop by the benches and chugged down all the water she could before checking her texts. She'd come to dread texts - or any type of notification, really. This one was no different. It was from Jackie.
Girls, there's been a development. Meet me @ the horse statue outside school.
On my way.
I'll be there!
I'll be there 2
Me 2
Iris sprinted to the showers and took the quickest one she could. Wrestling on her 20% Cooler shirt - her favorite one, she felt she would need it - she ran to the statue.
The mascot was legendary. A lot of questionable things had happened around the statue, and every year, graduating seniors graffitied it with farewell messages. It was possibly the only mascot in the history of ever that was fully condoned by the students.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" she asked Jackie, who was sitting on the statue. She jumped down and faced Iris with a serious expression.
"I'll talk about it when everyone else gets here."
Fidgeting, Iris fell silent as she waited impatiently for everyone else to get here.
"So, what did you call us for?" Mina asked cheerfully, rolling back and forth on the balls of her toes.
"I don't know if y'all alread know this," Jackie said reluctantly, "but Mayor King's been kidnapped."
Everyone gasped. "Well, that's certainly not good. My mother tells me stories about how Eclipse City used to be before Mayor King took office, and it certainly doesn't sound good," Sophia said worriedly. "Our last mayor was a madman! He liked to be called Discord!"
"This is bad," Iris admitted, "but how does this relate to us again?"
Jackie narrowed her eyes. "When Ah talked to Mel 'bout the whole thing, she turned and ran away - and Ah'm talking full-out sprint here, guys. She wouldn't stop grabbing her bacelet, too."
Angelina gasped. "You think that Melissa has something to do with the kidnapping?"
Jackie shrugged helplessly. "Ah can't confirm anything, but mah whole life Ah've been able ta tell right away when someone's lying. Mah instincts have always been spot-on, and when Ah talked to Mel, all the alarm bells in mah head went off."
"Do you think we should do something?" Iris spoke up. "I dunno about you girls, but I'm not gonna sit by while someone I know may have kidnapped my mayor!"
Iris trusted Jackie. They may just be acquaintences, but Jackie'd always stood up for her whenever she got pushed around for being so short or any other aspect of her that seemed to fall short in other's eyes.
"I'm hesitant to get too involved," Sophia said, "but I certainly think we should do something about Mel, at least."
Everyone agreed, and everyone huddled around Jackie's phone as she texted Mel.
Hey, Mel. Can u meet us @ the horse statue?
Why?
Pls?
Fine
A few minutes later, Mel came out of a SUV and jogged up to the statue. "What's up?" she asked.
"Mel . . ." Jackie hesitated. "Do ya have anythin' ta do with Mayor King'd kidnapping?"
Mel choked on air. "I-I need to go," she said, turning around.
Jackie grabbed her shoulder with an iron grip. "Mel," she said seriously, "you seem nice enough, but if you have anything to do with her kidnapping, I-no, we need to know about it."
We.
Iris felt a surge of warmth in her chest, but ignored it. This was not the time to get mushy. She kept her eyes trained on Mel. "Surround her."
Hesitantly, the girls circled Mel, closing off all chance of escape. Mel swallowed. "I can't!"
"Do you have anything to do with Mayor King's kidnapping?" Jackie asked, deadly calm. She stared Mel straight in the eye. Iris knew from experience that no one could lie to those eyes.
"Y-yes," Mel stuttered.
Jackie took out her phone and began to dial a number.
"WAIT!" Mel cried desperately. "I'll tell you everything - just don't call the police."
The six of them sat down on the stone steps leading to the front doors of the school. "Spill," Mina ordered.
Mel took a deep breath. "When I was young - like, five or six - Aunt Celeste pulled me aside for a private talk, and she gave me this charm bracelet." She held the silver thing up to the light, and everyone leaned in for a closer look. "She said that it would help me in my time of need, and I would have to find the charms in case she ever went missing. She knew this would happen. And, ever since she went missing . . . it's been burning against my finger."
Mina carefully touched the tip of her finger to the chain and yelped. "HOT!"
Mel nodded. "She also said something about the others . . . and that I should tell only them," she confessed. "And ever since I've met you guys, I felt this warm feeling - like, like a spark, and whenever I'm with you the bracelet gets hotter. She said . . . she said, 'my most educated analysis, with all means of science and technology in mind, is that it's magic.'"
Everyone was at a loss for words, but not Iris. She didn't have great grades, she may not have the best life, but when it really came down to it, she knew what to do. It came from her heart, which isn't something many people follow, especially in a high school, especially in a school like Eclipse, where they redifined the word 'competitive'."
"Well? Let's find those charms!"
Author's Note
And here we have another chapter! Sorry for the break, but I recently had a whole plethora of tests, and life was messing with me.
Next chap, the metaphorical 'trek through the Everfree' begins . . .