Things had taken a turn for the unsettling, Luna decided, as a massive wave of what she could only classify as dark magic swept through the school. They had done quite well, the collective defenders of Canterlot High, in pushing back and defeating the possessed masses and unsettling fae creatures. There had been a moment where their resolve had faltered in the face of potential tragedy, but the students had rallied around Flash Sentry’s inspired speech, and now the bulk of the defenders was converging on the rotunda, with a smaller group led by Granny Smith circling through the woods with the intention of flanking the enemy that had gathered out front. Chatter and static came from the earpiece she had given Raven, loud enough to hear as Luna picked herself up off the ground.

“I cannot imagine that is anything good,” she said with a sigh, offering a hand to Cadence.

“Neither can I,” her best friend responded. “I…I’m worried for Twily too. Not only is she in the thick of this…but she…she would have seen it when Sunset was…” She choked on her words. “Oh…Sunset…” Tears welled up and she wiped her eyes hurriedly. “And we don't know where Spike is now,” she cried. “I was supposed to look after them all, and I feel like I’ve failed completely! Spike’s run off, Twily is in the hands of monsters, and Sunset might be—”

She made a sound in her throat. “Cady…I must agree with Mr. Sentry’s proclamation. Do not count Sunset Shimmer out of the picture just yet. She has abilities and hidden strengths I do not believe anyone truly understands. Not even her.”

“I know she’s tough,” Cadence agreed wetly, still trying to stop the tears. “But…what…they saw happen? What your students saw on camera? She’s got to be terribly hurt. She needed medical attention right away, and we are stuck fighting in the halls.”

Nodding, Luna squeezed her shoulder briefly. “I know, but…I also know she survived a literal fall from a considerable height last October with no injuries to speak of, and she has alluded to some…lingering properties her magic has…acquired. Right now we are trying to work our way to them—they seem to have moved out front, which is where we will face them.”

Before she could say anything else, the shadows came alive around them, disgorging amorphous monsters from every nook and cranny, things made of darkness that flowed from one shape to the other and advanced on them. Luna twisted her polearm and cut through three of them with a horizontal slash. They collapsed into dust, leaving particulates that smoldered on the oil coating her blade. “Something seems to have changed. We need to hurry.”

Shining Armor drove as quickly as he could get away with in the nondescript, beat up truck he had borrowed from the motor-pool’s undercover cars, but it was still too slow in the morning traffic. He had finally escaped the city proper and was in the suburban neighborhood area near Canterlot High, and he still hadn't heard anything from his fiancée or his sisters. It was making him tense, and he clicked on his personal radio. “Armor, checking in. I should be at CHS in a few minutes.”

“Understood,” Plot’s voice came through. “The captain said I’m to stay on this line for your check-ins. He’s giving you another hour to have news before he sends one of the SWAT teams. Please be careful, Detective.”

“I will, Plot. Going dark to keep my cover. Will check in as soon as possible.” He thumbed the radio off and tucked it into his inner jacket pocket. Just three more blocks…

A beam of what could only be described as purple fire and pure darkness shot into the sky beyond the houses and the trees, and a faint shockwave made the ground tremble and trees bend. He hit the brakes, bracing for the oncoming wave, and felt the truck rock violently…and die.

“Shit!” Shining put the vehicle in neutral and let it roll, guiding it to the side of the road. Then he got out, looking around. Thunder boomed overhead, the sky threatening to split open any minute. It was still midmorning, but the clouds were so dark that everything was cast into a sort of late twilight dimness.

Still, it was enough light for him to recognize where he was: right next to the street that had the entrance to the forest path that led right to Canterlot High’s parking lot. Shining took off at a run, the nauseous feeling in the pit of his stomach telling him his family was right in the thick of whatever it was he had seen. “Hold on, girls, I’m coming to help…” Orders be damned—he wasn't going to let them get hurt.

It was almost impossible to see once he passed beyond the treeline on the narrow trail, but he could make out the scattered bits of trash left behind by teens using the area for activities they did not want their parents to know about. He jogged as rapidly as he could get away with, not willing to risk tripping in the woods, and strained his ears and eyes for danger. All was quiet until he reached the fork in the trail, not more than thirty yards from the asphalt of the parking lot…

“You’ve got ten seconds ta put yer hands in the air sonny Jim, or yer gettin’ a load o’ salt shot somewhere mighty painful-like.”

Carefully, Shining raised his hands over his head, and turned to face the voice. The young detective found himself looking at an elderly woman with a shotgun and several dozen high schoolers in Canterlot High Spiritwear, including the headbands with fuzzy ears. They were also all armed with super soakers, slingshots, and an array of sports equipment. “I’m a friend,” he said. “My name is Shining Armor—I’m with the CCPD. Badge is in my hip pocket, left side.”

“Izzat so? Mac, search him. Where's yer sidearm, officer?”

He sighed. “Undercover to check out the situation here. Had to leave it behind.”

The old woman waited while a red skinned youth frisked him efficiently and nodded. “Tellin’ the truth. Detective Shining Armor, CCPD.”

She hummed. “School’s a shitshow right now, officer. We been freeing hostages and getting kids ta safety, but this ain't a situation yer lot is ready fer.”

“You mean the magic? I figured, but I’m here anyway.” At the woman's raised eyebrow, he explained, “One of my sisters goes here, and she's involved in the whole mess. I pieced it together on my own. Now I’m worried for both sisters, my fiancée, and one of my best friends, because all of them are here today.”

A quiet murmur, and a girl with a baseball bat called out, “Who is your sister that goes here?”

Shining answered immediately. “Sunset Shimmer.” He figured it couldn't hurt—they likely knew her.

Sudden tension and somber silence greeted the words, and his heart sank. “What happened? Is Sunset alright?”

The old woman lowered her gun. “…We don't know…she…It doesn't look good. Mah girls were with her, trying ta protect her and save their friend…but…”

“They put something on her,” a boy with a sparse mustache said. “It made her scream like she was being tortured. And then they said the shadow monster threw her across the gym. Flash thinks she's alive. We want her to be alive…but it doesn't look good…so we’re going to do like she would have. We’re going to stop the monsters and save the school and everyone else.”

Twily would be devastated. So would his mother. Shining blinked back tears. “I…I need to know…my baby sister…she goes to CPA. She and Sunset are…close. Sunset would have tried to protect her from Cinch…is she here?” He held his hand at about Twilight’s height. “Dark hair, pink streak, lavender skin, glasses.”

It was then that the boy who frisked him squinted. “Wait just a cotton pickin’ minute. Which one’s yer sister? Sunset or Princess Twilight?”

Princess…?

Confused, he held up his hands again so they wouldn't attack. “I don't know about a princess, but Twilight Sparkle is my little sister by blood…and Sunset is my sister by choice. Twily started bringing her home last fall and she’s been part of the family since.” The eyes staring at him felt sharper than any knife, and he swallowed.

It seemed to satisfy the boy and the old woman. “Right. Well, we’re on our way ta flankin’ those sons of bitches that done attacked our school. You want ta join us, officer? We got spare weapons that’ll actually work on these beasties when we roll ‘em up like a dirty carpet.”

Shining’s expression did nothing to hide his pain, but his voice was firm despite the tears in his eyes. “Ma’am…just give me a sword and point me at the dragon.”

Laughter, strained and tired from seeing too much erupted from the teens. The woman stared into his eyes before nodding. “Y'all heard the man. Get him a bat and oil it up like the others.” She nodded to him. “Ah think we’ll get along just fine, Detective.”

Indigo had to admit she was more than a little impressed with the Principal of CHS. The woman was nothing like Principal Cinch, and after close to an hour of fighting side by side with her, the pair of them armed with super soakers and a couple of iron rods that had begun life as fireplace pokers from back in the school’s ancient past before it was modernized, the girl decided that this had to be the coolest school in the world. Principal Celestia dispatched enemies with brutal efficiency, her eyes blazing with controlled fury at the audacity of creatures that dared attack her school and her students.

They were taking a break now, breathing heavily and gulping down water from bottles that had been stashed in a locker with a winged horse sticker on the front. “This is insane!” Indigo panted. “How many of these things are there?! We only had like two hundred people here!”

The woman with her remained collected. “I feel it would be prudent to assume they have a method of acquiring reinforcements, as not all we have engaged have been solid humanoid forms, Indigo, not since that…wave of dark energy knocked us down.”

Her arms felt like jello, and she leaned heavily on the lockers. “…I guess…just feels like we have been at this forever and there's no end in sight.”

Pale fingers rested briefly on her shoulder. “We are almost to the rotunda—do not give up hope. If what my students are saying is to be believed…then we have cleared most of the enemy from the school.”

“But we haven’t rescued Twilight,” Indigo countered.

Principal Celestia’s expression became one of sorrow. “I know,” she said softly. “We have not given up, but it would not have helped to be reckless, Indigo Zap. Sunset would not have wanted you to help Twilight at the cost to yourself.”

Frustration made her pull away sharply from the educator. “Yeah? Well, Sunset might be fucking dead, and if she is, then I gotta help Twilight and make sure she gets home safe.” Now she was panting and trying to catch her breath for a different reason. “I’ve gotta! If…if she’s gone, Twilights gonna be messed up. They had a fight, and she hasn't gotten to apologize. If…if Sunset’s dead…and Sparkle never gets to…God…she might…I don't think she’ll make it. Not as the Twilight we know.” Why was she crying? This was the worst time for tears—she couldn't see! “Dammit!” She rubbed furiously at her face—she couldn't afford to do this now.

Warm arms enfolded her in a hug, just like her mother or aunts might have given her. “Shhh…” came the soothing voice of the Canterlot High principal. “Let it out…holding it in doesn't help.”

She shook her head. “This is the worst time! We have to help Twilight!”

“We have a minute or two. Let it out…It sounds like Sunset is your friend too, and it is okay to be upset and scared when our friends are in trouble.” A hand made soothing circles on her back, and she could feel the humming, a soft tune that seemed familiar…

Because it was.

Because the bitch in black leather had hummed it to Twilight in the nurse’s office. It's what had gotten Twilight to finally relax, Sunset holding her and humming that same song…

She had failed to protect Twilight like she’d said. And now…because of her failure…Twilight might have lost the girl she loved…forever.

It was Indigo’s fault.

“No…” Celestia murmured. “It was never your fault, or Twilight’s or Sunset’s or anyone but the monster named Abacus Cinch.”

Indigo shook her head, and one hand fumbled in her pocket. She’d shoved the rosary her abuela had gifted her in there every morning for the last week, on the off chance it could protect her from the monsters when paired with the discreet silver cross she normally wore when she was forced to go to church with her family. Demonic looking monster or not, Sunset mattered to the only friend Indigo really had…and she had been nothing but friendly to Indigo too. And Indigo contributed to a situation that might cost both of them their lives. Might have already cost Sunset hers.

Grasping the beads, she found herself praying in the rapid Spanish she heard Abuelita use, even if she only understood one word in five. There was something familiar and calming to the rolling syllables and smooth beads. She wasn't sure if it would grant her any absolution for her part in what had happened to Twilight and Sunset, but it was something.

She didn't expect for her hiccupped prayer to be joined by the woman with her, and certainly not in smooth Italian. The teen glanced up through teary eyes as they reached the end of the prayer. “Y-you’re Catholic?”

A soft laugh and a faint smile and she was released from the gentle hug. “For at least ten generations,” Principal Celestia chuckled. “My father’s family immigrated here from Venesia. Mother’s was Romano.” She picked her fireplace poker back up and balanced it against her shoulder. “What about your family?”

“Abuelita left Oaxaca as a little girl. Mom’s family is mostly Irish. You can guess why they came to America a hundred odd years ago.” She rubbed her eyes and copied Principal Celestia. “I go when they make me…might have to start going more. I dunno. I'm not keen on the things the church sticks its nose into…but if demons are real…” She left it hanging.

The woman hummed in her throat. “Faith is a very deeply personal thing you should decide for yourself, Indigo, but I will say that there is no shame in seeking inner peace and comfort from it, should it help you. And should you ever simply need to talk about your experiences with magic, both my sister and I have degrees in counseling, and open office doors. I understand you're the Indigo who is going to be joining us for the rest of the year after spring break?”

Nodding, Indigo resumed their trek towards the rotunda, where they could see a growing gathering of students and teachers. “Yes, ma’am. I would have already transferred but I wasn't going to abandon Twilight.”

“My sister mentioned that when we were looking at the paperwork your mother dropped off. I would be glad to welcome you as one of our Wondercolts alongside Twilight. You already show the exact attitude I want to see out of my students.”

Indigo smiled weakly. “…just doing what my parents taught me…”

Principal Celestia chuckled. “They should be proud of you then.”

They stepped into the open space of the rotunda, and one of the boys from the CHS Games Team jogged up. “Principal Celestia!”

“Mister Sentry,” she responded. “How is everything here?”

He ran a hand through blue hair. “We’re just waiting on the last two groups and Vice Principal Luna. Things are getting bad out there. They've sealed the doors somehow and they caused that big wave of dark magic. Trixie says it was about as dark as it gets. It took out most of our cameras, and about half the headsets. We’re mostly blind, and just glad all the coordinating was pretty much done before they went out.” His shoulders slumped. “No sign of Sunset, but they have the other girls and Twilight with them.”

Indigo stepped forward. “Is Twilight okay? Could you see her?”

Sentry made a face. “She didn't look great…but she was fighting from what we could see before they pulled her to the center of that mess.” He motioned towards the doors with one hand—the other was gripping some kind of modified nail-gun. “Before the radios went on the fritz—we need to have Sunset and the princess figure out a way to magic-proof our tech for next time—Bon-Bon had Granny Smith leading a portion of our forces through the woods. They're going to flank the bad guys.”

“Tell her the rest,” a stern voiced girl told him, before turning back to coordinating with two other group leaders, the pony ears on the headband a bright creamy yellow that matched her skin.

The blue haired boy winced. “Right. Um. Big Mac beat the crap out of Mr. Pythagorus, and Dark Tide had him zip-tied and locked in the mop closet.”

Principal Celestia’s face turned hard. “What did he do to elicit that reaction?”

Another wince and a frown, which told Indigo it was nothing good. She was proven right when he answered, “He…advertised his personal feelings on the idea that Sunset might be dead. Tide said he was…celebrating that knowledge.”

From behind them there was a sharp intake of breath, and the voice of Twilight’s sister-in-law. “Lu…I don't know who they're talking about, but I think you may have to stop me from murdering him.”

“Stop you?” Vice Principal Luna snorted. “Cadenza, as your best friend, my place is helping you dispose of the body. Someone else will have to be responsible in this case.” She paused. “Sister, please tell me we can at least fire him after this?”

Exhaling slowly, the principal turned to face her…sister? That was a weird thought, Indigo noted, having siblings be in charge of a school. What happened when they disagreed? “At the very minimum, yes—we had a crisis, one where our student body is in real danger and he chose to be a useless coward and hide, rather than protect the children. I suspect job termination shall be the least of his worries.”

Miss Luna stepped into Indigo’s line of sight, and Indigo’s jaw dropped. “Okay…this is officially the coolest school in the history of ever,” she stated. The woman was clad in honest to goodness armor, leaning on a polearm with a wicked head that gleamed wetly under the fluorescent lights.

Sea colored eyes flitted to her. “The compliment is appreciated, Miss Zap. Are you alright? You…seem to have been in a very physical altercation or two.”

She shrugged. “They wouldn't let Twilight or me go once we got in the building. We tried to escape, to get to Sunset, to you, to anyone with an ounce of power and authority, but…they objected to that. With their fists.” She grinned savagely. “Sunset returned the favor to our VP. I think she and Rainbow Dash broke his arm. I heard it snap.”

“He deserved it.” Sentry scowled. “He called Sunset a whore and tried to grab her.”

Luna’s eyes narrowed. “He definitely deserved it. Sexist pig.” Then she looked at her sister. “I have something for you, Tia. A bit more your style than that ancient poker.” At her side, Cadence took off a belt that was around her chest and offered out a fancy looking sword in its scabbard.

The principal handed Indigo her poker, and took the sword reverently. “You had it restored,” she whispered, fingers running over ivory leather, before buckling it around her waist where it fit perfectly.

“More than restored. Restored, sharpened, and then blessed by Father Malleus, sister.”

There was a quiet from all around, and then the tough looking girl from earlier spoke up. “No offense, Principal Celestia, but do you even know how to use that thing?”

Indigo stepped back as the woman drew the sword with a singing sound, holding the gleaming rapier in one expert hand. She took a professional fencing stance, and made a few test movements to check the blade’s balance. “I do believe I have an idea—after all, how hard is ‘pointy end goes in the other man’ to understand?”

“Um…I think it's a little more complicated than that…” the girl responded dubiously.

A smile had come over Miss Luna’s face. “What my sister is neglecting to share is that she turned down the scouts for the Olympic fencing team when she was in college, after she took nationals for the second year in a row.”

Okay. Yeah. That would do it. It certainly explained why the educator had been so deadly and efficient with a length of iron. The teen rubbed her fingers along the pokers in her grip. “Strange question…but are there any more of those ears?” she asked, pointing towards the decorations they were all wearing. “I can't change clothes, but…I want to make it clear which side I’m on.”

Sentry looked her over. “You're Twilight’s friend, aren't you? The one that called her when Twilight was in trouble.”

“Uh…yup. That's me. Indigo Zap.” She juggled the pokers to hold out a hand. “I’ll be transferring here once Twilight does. I didn't want to leave her to the hyenas at CPA.”

He smiled and shook it. “Flash Sentry. One of Sunset’s friends. We’ll be glad to have you both. Pony-girl needs you guys here, and Dash’ll like you, I think. She appreciates loyalty like yours.” Someone passed over some headbands. One he gave to her. “Welcome to being a Wondercolt.”

“Thanks.”

He turned and offered another to Principal Celestia, this one with ivory ears and a long unicorn horn on it. “We made special ones for you and Miss Luna, but her helmet has that covered—badass, by the way, Miss Luna.”

“Thank you, Mister Sentry. Give Cadence mine for now.” Luna smirked. “Well, put on your crown, Tia. Your subjects await their leader.”

Celestia sighed. “Poor taste, Luna, given what we know of Princess Celestia.”

“Who said anything about a princess? We are clearly queens, sister. That makes us better than your nag of a counterpart.”

Shaking her head, Celestia slipped the headband on firmly. “Satisfied?”

“Mostly. You still have to give a rousing speech to—”

“It's Sunset!” a girl screamed from the doors. “She’s alive!!!”

That got everyone’s attention and Indigo followed the principals as they waded through students to the doors. There was some kind of showdown going on, Sunset supporting Rainbow Dash as she got up…and then the crowd parted…

To reveal Twilight, wreathed in shadows like some kind of freaky exosuit. She looked terrifying and monstrous, and the twisted expression on her face was so unlike Indigo’s friend that it made her nauseous. “Ay, Dios,” she whispered. “What did they do to you, Sparkle?”

Letting Dash stand on her own, Sunset stepped forward, and then her voice rang out. It was no parade ground yell, yet it was as if she stood in the room beside them. “I, Magus Sunset Shimmer of Equestria, protégé of the Goddess of the Dawn, She Who Commands the Celestial Spheres, Challenge you thrice, King Sombra, Horned Shadow and Ruler of Demons. I Challenge your crown, I Challenge your rule, and I Challenge your Claim to Twilight Sparkle. You are an honorless coward using children as fodder for your delusions, and I refuse to let you have this world.”

The being she called Sombra, who was clearly using Twilight’s body as a puppet, stared at her a minute before they heard his booming reply. “I, King Sombra, Horned King of Darkness and shadow, King of Demons and true master of this world, accept your Challenge thrice, Magus Sunset Shimmer. As Challenged, the terms are thus: My Power against yours, My army, against yours.” The smile that warped Twilight’s mouth was dark and unpleasant. “And when you lose, you shall serve me and call me Master. It will be useful should I decide to take your world as well. Celestia and I have a score to settle.” A snap of fingers sent Sunset’s battered friends hurled to her feet.

Principal Celestia watched a moment longer, and seemed to come to a decision. She leapt up onto a long table against the nearby wall. “Wondercolts!” she barked, her voice breaking through the angry chatter of the crowd and sending them to silence. “Sunset Shimmer lives, and still fights! She fights for her friends! For each of you! For this school and this world that she now calls home! She has chosen to make herself into someone each and every one of you has come to love and respect! Someone I am more proud of than I can say, just as I am so proud to be principal for such a wonderful school!”

Her rapier swept in an arc to point at the crowd. “Each and every one of you has made me proud today. You have shown courage and honor, loyalty and friendship, kindness and mercy. You have taken a stand against evil with no powers of your own…and yet you have prevailed…because you do have a magic within you. The very magic that powers the Rainbooms, that Princess Twilight showed you last fall—the Magic of Friendship! The bonds you have formed have made you greater than the sum of your parts! It has made you more than teens, more than individuals! It has made you Wondercolts!” The point of her sword gestured to the glass doors, to the monster called Sombra. “Our enemy demands Sunset bring forth an army to face his! I say we are that army! No pale shadows and horrors of darkness, but living, breathing people who have embraced the magic of our school and who will be the greatest generation of graduates Canterlot High has ever seen! I say we show him what it means to mess with the Wondercolts, and to threaten one of our own!”

Celestia raised her sword aloft, the tip pointed heavenward. “Who is with me?!”

The assembled masses roared back, hundreds of makeshift weapons in the air. With a burst of energy, a girl wielding an actual wizard staff appeared beside the principal. “The House of Lulamoon stands with House Solaire!” she declared. “And upon the Wondercolts, I bestow the strength of Lulamoon!” That staff began to move through the air in a complex pattern that left a trail of shimmering, multicolored sparks. “A spell left to his descendants by the Greatest Sorcerer to ever live, that even the most humble of tools may smite evil and drive it from the world!” With a flourish, she brought the staff down on the table’s surface, the silver capped end striking sharply, and the energy rushed over the room as a rain of color. It stuck to every makeshift weapon and repurposed tool, leaving behind a faint rainbow glow that flowed from one color to another.

Inclining her head, Principal Celestia smiled at the girl. “House Solaire appreciates the support of the House of Lulamoon,” she said quietly. “In the future, in such endeavors, perhaps an alliance can be discussed?”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie shall speak to her father after this has ended.”

“Lovely.” The woman climbed down from the table, and turned her attention to the biggest man Indigo had ever seen in real life. He was made even larger by the modified football pads and football helmet that had metal bull horns coming out of it like some modern day Viking. “Will? Be a dear—make us a door.”

Author's Note

And now all those little threads are converging. Shining is with the students, the various PoV characters are in the same place, and now they're about to rejoin Sunset at the girls.

Celestia seems to have found her courage once more, something I know seemed to have faltered in the aftermath of the sirens and their nonsense. She's remembered her fire, that she's the leader, and that this is her fucking school dammit. And now she's going to do something about it.

I rather enjoyed her giving a bit of a friendship speech, a sort of twist because Celestia in most stories is cast in the role of mentor--IE, observer, rather than active participant. The vision of her showing the very traits that the Princess version passed on to Sunset by setting an example takes her out of that mentor/observer role and makes her a character in her own right.

This is a woman who is strong, independent, and powerful in her own way. She has a resilience and strength of character, and even though it took time in the face of a problem and enemies that she had no skillset or knowledge on how to combat, she comes out strong and doing whats right to inspire and lead her people. This is the personality that Sunset grew up idolizing, that she wanted to be.

Celestia is the Sun.

And the Sun is the brightest Fire we know, burning, hot, brilliant and fierce.

Time to lead from the front, Principal Celestia. May your foes fall before your might.

...And yes. Trixie just fucking buffed everyone's weapons. She really likes her new wizard stick...I foresee her refusing to go anywhere without it from now on. (And she'll get away with it, because it resembles a fancy walking stick, and there are no laws against walking sticks/canes. Trust me, my LARP buddies could get away with taking a six foot staff into any location because it doesnt look like a weapon.)

Meanwhile, Shining is now in with a group of high schoolers being led by an elderly lunch-lady with a shotgun. Finally getting his chance to fight the proverbial dragon. *cackles*

Next week will be a delightful chapter. Bruhahah.