Equestria Girls: Bonds Forged of Friendship I (Love)

It was a simple mistake...but Sunset would quickly come to regret it...

Her team's plan certainly wasn't flawless, and the execution even less so, but they had succeeded. Trixie's wand was broken, with an audible crack that briefly echoed throughout the aisles as it snapped against Sunset's knee. The show should've been over then, and were their initial assumptions correct, it probably would've been...

The chief problem with Equestrian magic in the human world has always been that of unpredictability. You never knew who, what, where, or when it would strike next; furthermore, and worse still, there was no way of predicting just how it would affect whatever was enchanted, let alone what kind of trouble it could ultimately cause.
Would it all end up being a minor incident—like a watering can that nearly incited a floral insurrection? Or would it escalate into a borderline catastrophe—like a storm strong enough to capsize an entire cruise-liner? Either way was possible, really. Actually, anything seemed possible when it came to Equestrian magic, and that was simply something that the girls always had to be ready for.

Mind you, unpredictability wasn't the same as unpreparedness, which is something that they worked hard to ensure was rarely the case. In particular, the Rainbooms had seen enough action over the years to at least recognize the most common ways in which magical threats manifested themselves. Twilight even went the extra mile at one point to develop a classification system, though too many outliers and variables ultimately put that to rest. Still, when pooled together, most forms of Equestrian magic that underlined their many adventures could generally be grouped into one of three categories.

On the one hand, there was completely unbound magic—that which was tethered to neither person nor possession. So far, the girls had encountered this kind of threat only once, but that was frankly more than enough for a lifetime. If the Storm King's wayward tempest was any indication, then unbound magic was not only stable enough to sustain itself without a host, but also powerful enough to cause immense collateral damage. Thankfully, this kind of magic seemed to be on the rarer side of occurrences, and hopefully it would just stay that way indefinitely.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there was bound magic—specifically, that which resided within inanimate objects. The aforementioned watering can, a mirror that granted wishes, a cellphone that could teleport things and replace them with holograms; all courtesy of Equestrian magic, and all considerable nuisances. In general, smaller tools such as these were the most common targets for enchantment, though nobody quite understood why. Perhaps most magic that entered the human realm was simply too fragmented or weakened to inhabit larger objects. If that was the case, then the mind shudders to think of what these forces were capable of back when they were whole.

But between those two categories, there existed one other, and it was arguably the most dangerous of them all.

The thing about unbound magic was that, regardless of its power, it seemed largely mindless of its own actions. The Storm King's tempest was indeed vicious, but it struck with no concept of either purpose or prey. It was literally just an unbridled force of nature.
Meanwhile, enchanted objects might've been more far numerous in occurrence, but they were also considerably weaker in action. Granted, those fragments of magic could still cause serious damage, but it was nowhere near the scale and size of some of the girls' worst encounters.

But what about enchanted people? What about those individuals who somehow found themselves directly imbued with Equestrian magic? Surely, they couldn't be much worse than any of the other possibilities, right?

Desperate to protect her family's legacy, an enchanted Gloriosa Daisy nearly buried all of Camp Everfree underneath a tombstone of bramble and vines.
Insatiable for knowledge and understanding, an enchanted Twilight Sparkle nearly caused two worlds to violently collapse into one another.
Angered at not being properly recognized for her talents, an enchanted Sunset Shimmer nearly led a brainwashed army into a full-blown war with Equestria.

Perhaps they weren't quite on the same level, after all.
No...what made enchanted humans especially dangerous was that they were the best of the worst of both worlds. They had the power to cause untold devastation, and the control to shape that devastation however they pleased. They were easily corrupted by magic, but they could also alter the very nature of magic itself into something entirely different—something unknown, even to experts like Princess Twilight. The Rainbooms' ponying up via different triggers over time was testament enough to that, and that was one of the more benign examples!

What was it about humans that made their bonds with magic so volatile, even when compared to most creatures in Equestria? Maybe it was because neither side had much exposure to the other. Maybe both sides just naturally fed into one another, creating this symbiotic escalation of both power and influence over time. Or maybe it was just pure dumb luck.
Whatever the reason, one thing remained certain: people that were directly enchanted with Equestrian magic were some of the most dangerous opponents to deal with, and they needed to be handled with the utmost caution and strategy.

Unfortunately, not only were the Rainbooms apparently facing off against such a threat right then...but they only realized as much after managing to tick her off in the worst possible way...

“...How dare you,” Trixie whispered, after having been briefly brought to her knees in shock. The sight of a precious belonging being snapped in half was bad enough, but seeing a confused Sunset examine it afterward...no doubt just to add insult to her loss...only filled the magician...the sorceress...with pure, unbridled fury!

The moment after that wand broke against her knee, Sunset's mind became ablaze with questions.
Where was the thunderous boom? Where were the bright flashes, or even the shock-waves? Where was anything, whatsoever!? Since when was Equestrian magic ever inconspicuous, especially when being rapidly released from something?

Did she somehow just...miss it? Was she so focused on bracing for whatever came next that the entire thing slipped by her unnoticed?
A quick look around at her friends suggested otherwise. One by one, in a wave of realization, everyone steadily went from shielding themselves to sharing in a look of pure bewilderment. Everyone but Twilight, that is—who was still being tightly restrained by a giant disembodied glove!

“Uh oh,” Sunset said, a sudden panic coming over her.
As if on cue, she heard Trixie whisper something then, and if everything else hadn't already been enough of a red flag, what came next firmly put all doubts of their mistake to rest.

The young magician steadily arose from her brief stupor, sporting a vengeful glare aimed right at Sunset. It took a moment for her to speak again, and it seemed as though she was struggling to actually formulate a complete sentence. But her transformation then spoke louder than any words could.

Her hate-filled eyes started to glow, with an emerald green as piercing as it was bright.
“...That wand...”

Her insidious voice grew layered, as if multiple timbres were overlapping with one another.
“...cost me...”

And her suddenly levitating body...was absolutely surging with Equestrian magic.
“A WHOLE MONTH'S ALLOWANCE!”

This was perhaps the first time that Trixie had ever left an audience completely speechless—without it being due to a legendarily blundered stunt, that is.
As energy coursed throughout her, the performer's anger practically caused it to spill out across the entire theater. The curtains rustled, the windows shuddered, and the lights flickered as sparks of Equestrian magic ran along the walls and ceiling. Between all of that, the girls probably could've remained awestruck for minutes on end. Their attention, however, was quickly recaptured...when a corrupted and indignant Trixie continued on with her show.

“So, people see me as a monster, huh, Sunset!? They're terrified of me!? Well then, LET'S GIVE THEM A GREAT REASON TO BE!”

With nary a moment's hesitation, and with her fire-headed adversary in her sights, the magician launched a massive bolt of magic from her own two hands. Sunset probably could've avoided the attack, albeit narrowly, but something caught her eye right at the last second: Angel.
In all of the confusion and sudden craziness, the poor creature had been paralyzed with fear. He stood next to Sunset like a rabbit in the headlights, even as danger quickly sped towards them. With little time to think, she attempted to grab Angel and toss him out of harm's way. Unfortunately, she only got as far as getting a hold of him before the blast went off right in front of them.
The explosion sent the two victims flying then, and they ultimately landed near the entryway with a rough tumble. Thankfully, Angel didn't even have a scratch on him thanks to Sunset, who tried to take the brunt of it all in an effort to shield him—and who now laid unconscious right beside him.

“SUNSET!” Applejack and Pinkie Pie both shouted, while Trixie seized on the opening for her next set of feats.

From both hands, a beam of magic shot out, each striking their respective target during the brief stint of inattention.
For Applejack, the effect was more immediate, as a series of wooden panels and iron links manifested from out of nowhere all around her. One by one, they rapidly surrounded the farmer, trapping her inside a makeshift box that became wrapped up with chains. To cap it all off, a large padlock appeared, locked the chains together, and weighed the entire box down onto its side.
Pinkie Pie started rushing over to help her friends, only to realize after a few steps that she wasn't getting anywhere—well, nowhere forward, at least. Gradually, her entire body felt weightless, and she began floating higher and higher into the air. Only the ceiling prevented her from drifting off any further, and all she could do from there was mingle with the audience members still being pinned up with darts.

“Um... Enjoying the show?”

Well...it took a bit of venting, but the sorceress finally managed to regain her composure. Not the most dignified of outbursts...but just look at her now!
No longer was her mind plagued with uncertainty. There was no more struggling, no more resisting. She fully accepted her powers now, and could feel them growing even stronger as her mind let go of all inhibitions. Even the magic of others was paltry child's play compared to what she was capable of now.

“Hmmm,” Trixie mused, finally calming down enough to admire her own amazing work. “An Applejack-in-a-box...and a Pinkie Pie-in-the-sky! Not bad at all!”

Suddenly, her admiration was interrupted by another plea...from behind her, this time.
“Trixie, please! Don't do this!”

“Fluttershy? So, you're here too, huh? I appreciate everything you've done for me, but that doesn't entitle you to a backstage pass! I'm afraid you'll have to keep everything you saw back there UNDER WRAPS!”

With a tug of her sleeve, a string of colored handkerchiefs slithered out and pounced at her latest costar. They quickly coiled around the demure girl, and wrapped her up like a rainbow-colored mummy, before she hit the ground wriggling helplessly.

And like that, they had all been silenced. Every critic, every malcontent, every single rabble-rousing troublemaker; they were all dealt with by none other than the Great and—by none other than Trixie.
Who needed a stupid little wand when she had so much power at her own fingertips!? Who needed to perform on petty little stages when they could do whatever she pleased!?
Those girls' tactics might've been a minor irritant, and that one's words even more so, but now? Now, there was nothing to stop them! The world was a stage now...and it was all theirs!

When she was attacked by Trixie then, Applejack was at first too confused by the spectacle of it all to realize what had transpired. One second, she's preparing to rush over and help her friends; the next, she's surrounded on all sides by a whirlwind of planks and chains! And now, here she laid, stuck in a little box while the others were still in trouble! She could hear the magician laughing it up from outside, and that only further added to her mounting aggravation.

“Grrr...This is gettin' on my last nerve!... Thinks she can keep me hogtied, huh!?”

It took a moment to get readjusted, but with her super-strength raring to go, she wasted no time breaking free of her little makeshift prison. With a few quick swings, the box practically erupted open from within, and the iron chains snapped like frail strings in the wake of such force. Moments later, Applejack was freed, on her feet, and once again ready for another round, much to the amusement of her annoying captor.

“Impressive! Buuut...maybe we should see just how good of an escape artist you really are... Think you could break free while dangling from a skyscraper!?”

Between the taunting, the capture and everything else, the farmer's patience was at its limit. Had she calmed down and looked around a bit, she might've noticed how the rest of her team was beginning to recover, themselves.
In the back, a conscious Sunset was starting to shake off her dazed stupor. Behind Trixie, Fluttershy was steadily being freed herself, as Angel diligently chewed away at her many wrappings. Meanwhile, Twilight had managed to get an arm free, and was using her powers to slowly weaken the giant glove's grasp on her. At this rate, the girls could've regrouped for a second assault with a little bit more time; however, Applejack simply couldn't stand feeling so helpless any longer. She needed to do something!

But what was there to work with?
Quickly looking around, she noticed a length of chain that was still relatively intact laying nearby. It wasn't exactly long enough to count as a lasso, but a bolas would do just fine. Hopefully, it would distract Trixie just long enough for her to get in closer. What to do afterward wasn't quite as clear, but that's a bridge that she'd just have to cross when the time came.

It was all or nothing now. Applejack grabbed the chain, twirled it around for the wind-up, and slung it at her hovering foe, before making a mad dash forward.

Talk about throwing everything but the kitchen sink!
For a second, Trixie was actually surprised—though only because she couldn't believe that anyone would attempt something so foolhardy. Still, perhaps props weren't such a bad idea, and how kind of her audience to provide her with one just then.
With a raise of her hand, she stopped the incoming projectile before it even got close. Then, with a simple flick of the wrist, she sent it spinning right back at the charging lout, catching her legs mid-run and causing her to tumble to the ground. Not bad for someone who's never even been to a rodeo!
There's always one in every crowd—the rowdy hooligan that needed to be escorted out—and this one certainly fit the bill. It was time for her to go and never come back!

“Before I retire from showbiz and move on to greater things, I'll grace you girls with one last trick! I'll make every one of you disappear...AND YOU'RE FIRST!”

The sorceress took aim, and gathered as much energy as she could into one palm. Before her victim could even free their legs of that chain, let alone rise from off the floor, it was too late. The largest bolt of magic yet was already hurtling through the air, mere seconds away from its target. There was no time to dodge, no time to react. There was only the end now.

As the bolt came speeding towards a firmly grounded Applejack then, all she could do was close her eyes and reluctantly await the end. And with every second that passed until the end, another regret raced through her frazzled mind. Couldn't even have a moment's peace before being blown away, huh?

Why did she just rush in all willy-nilly like that...
Why didn't she stop and think first...
Maybe try to find cover...
Or help her friends...
Her friends...
She never even got to see her best fr—

Boy, there seemed to be a lot of seconds left before the end...
It only then dawned on Applejack, but...she should've been hit by now. That bolt couldn't have been more than a few yards away, and there's no way that it missed the mark. Matter of fact, she already heard the explosion a moment ago. But...she felt fine?

Opening her eyes, the farm girl observed that she certainly seemed fine as well. Not a scratch anywhere on her, nor on the floor under her for that matter.

Did the bolt really miss? If it did, it couldn't have been by much. There were clouds of smoke all around her, after all—actually, no... She was surrounded but...not directly. Something stood between her and the debris...something slightly translucent...like a barrier!?
Not just one, either. The entire space around Applejack was sealed in by a dome then...an almost crystalline structure of diamond-like panels that interlocked with one another.

Wait...diamond-like?...

The panels quickly disappeared then, leaving a confused Applejack to question if she was hallucinating from one too many knocks to the head. In the distance, she could suddenly hear the echo of high-heels as they clapped against the flooring, growing louder and drawing closer with every step. She turned toward the source of those sounds, directing her gaze at the theater's entryway just as a figure steadily approached from outside.

It was difficult to see through all of the smoke, but the silhouette definitely belonged to a woman. And as this woman calmly marched in, her every step carried with it a certain kind of dignified grace. The way the hips gently swayed with such confidence... The way the hair maintained its intricate shape even after a dainty hand brushed it to the side...

...It couldn't be...

Though she managed to get her legs untangled, Applejack found herself unable to stand then. It felt as if her heart—as if everything—had suddenly stopped, unable to process what seemed like such an impossibility. She could only sit there and wait for the smoke to clear, and as it did, more of this newcomer's familiar details came into focus.

The ivory skin... The indigo locks... The pointed, pony-ears...

Was this really happening right now?
There's no way she could be here, right?
But it was her... Standing right there, all ponied up and clasping a glowing Geode, was none other than...

“...Rarity?”

“RARITY!” the other girls shouted, drowning out their friend's whisper. At least now she knew that she wasn't just losing her mind...not yet, anyway.

Being fashionably late was one thing, but this was cutting it especially close.
Another few seconds later, and Applejack might've been turned into an Apple-Fritter! Rarity could only count her blessings for having arrived when she did then.
The fashionista took a few more steps forward, all the while flaunting a confident smile, and even struck a little pose at the end of her walk. Regardless of the situation, she never could resist making an exceptional entrance—especially when all eyes were fervently on her.

“So sorry I'm late, girls! It's always such a hassle finding one's luggage at the airport.”

Bravado aside, she also took the brief opportunity to get a more detailed impression of the theater, as well as where all of her friends were currently situated. They were certainly a bit more scattered than she would've hoped—especially Pinkie Pie, who was waving at her from upside down on the ceiling—but at least they were all safe for the moment.
And then there was the main attraction, levitating above the stage and clearly annoyed at having to deal with another uninvited attendee.

“Well, well, well,” Trixie taunted. “Look who finally decided to show up! Here to join the rest of this pathetic excuse for an act, Rarity?”

“My goodness!” Rarity gasped, a look of pure fright running across her face at the sight of something so ghastly and alarming. “Trixie!? What on earth happened to you!?”

“Ha ha ha! Surprised!? We've finally awoken our true powers, and soon the whole world shall—”

“Hmm!? Oh, yes, yes—the whole 'overflowing with magic' thing. That's all very well and whatnot, but...I was referring to that horrifying choice of outfit!”

“We will—Wait... What!?”

“Well, black and gold, darling! It's all just so—ugh—last season... And that giant plume!?”

“That's... THIS is the outfit of a master sorceress!”

“Oh, sweetie,” Rarity chided, in the most patronizingly haughty way possible. “It's more like the rags of someone trying far too hard to be recognized. Why, I doubt anyone could possibly take you seriously in such a ridiculous—”

“NOW WE'RE BEING MOCKED FOR OUR CLOTHING!? ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE!”

Once again, the magician's eyes were headlights of pure green, and magic surged violently around her as she became engulfed in rage. With a clap of her hands, she focused as much energy as possible into a massive orb, before hurling it at her latest critic.
Either Trixie hadn't exactly figured out what went wrong with her last attack, or she was simply too corrupted to even care. One way or another, Rarity was perfectly content with relying on the same tactic again if her opponent was going to. Tapping into her own magic then, she manifested a massive panel in front of her to intercept the blast. This time, however, she willed it to rapidly jerk forward at the moment of impact, effectively paddling the energy ball and sending it flying right back toward its sender.

It wasn't a genuine threat by any means, but Trixie was caught off-guard then. It was as if she never even considered the possibility that her own magic could be used against her, and that realization took far too long for her to process. As such, all she could do was quickly drop to the ground in order to dodge her own attack in time.
As she landed onto the stage, her rebounded orb whizzed by overhead, tore right through the curtains, and ultimately went off somewhere backstage. Moments later, a sizable portion of the burned off drapes fell to the floor, and she was gradually able to glimpse some of the freshly destroyed props that were consumed by the explosion. Had she reacted even a few seconds later, that all could've been her...
Taken aback as Trixie was by all of that, the young performer's ire quickly returned to Rarity, who continued on unabated with her habiliment heckling.

“Oh, now, honestly, Trixie! If you wish to go around looking like a common Las Pegasus street performer, that's your prerogative. But you simply must learn to take some constructive criticism, dear!”

“Big talk coming from a prissy little wench! LET'S SEE HOW LONG YOU CAN BACK IT UP!”

No more games! The sorceress channeled as much magic as she could, and fired it all as one continuous beam at this cocky little interloper! Of course, her foe summoned another set of those blasted barriers to hide behind, but this time she couldn't just volley their power back—not when Trixie was continuously outputting even more magic!
And as more magic continued to assault that diamond defense, more cracks started to appear on its surface! This girl was certainly holding her own, almost to an admirable degree, but she wouldn't last much longer now! Her comrades couldn't help out either, not when they were either trapped or dead in her sights! Realizing that, the sorceress poured even more magic onto that shield, and delighted in her inevitable victory!

“HA HA HA! STARTING TO CRACK UNDER THE PRESSURE, RARITY!? GUESS YOUR MAGIC'S JUST SECOND RATE COMPARED TO OURS!”

“Nnghhh!” Rarity grunted, as another massive crack appeared in her increasingly brittle bulwark. No doubt she was almost at her limit, but even as the strain grew more immense, she couldn't help forcing a little smirk.

“I...I'm surprised at you, Trixie... You—nnghh—you claim to be a great magician....and yet...you've forgotten the most important part...... Keeping...your audience—ahhh—distracted......while you...act elsewhere!”

Her panels were just about to break, and an unyielding Trixie focused absolutely everything she had on finishing her off.

“HA! YOU THINK YOU CAN DO SOMETHING TO ME NOW!?”

“...Not I, per se... NOW!”

It had happened right under the magician's nose. Even as the entire entryway was within her sights, she was too focused on the fashionista to notice as a rainbow blur sped along the periphery moments prior. She didn't even realize that someone was standing right behind her then—at least, not until that someone grabbed at the rim of her hat and proceeded to yank it down tightly over her head.

“HEY!” Trixie yelled, immediately ceasing her attack so as to try and pull the hat off. Before she could so much as tug at it, however, her speedy assailant began to circle around and wrap her up in the burned off curtains. Seconds later, she was completely encased in a cotton cocoon, unable to so much as move an inch.
With one last flick, Rainbow Dash tipped the trapped Trixie over, and briefly delighted in seeing her so aimlessly writhing around on the floor.

“And that's a wrap! Heh heh, get it? Cause she's—”

“RAINBOW!” the girls cheered...or shouted.

“Oh, right! Awesome quips later, hero time now!”

As Rainbow rushed over to help release Fluttershy, Twilight finally managed to get both of her arms free then. Now she could fully utilize her powers again, and promptly did so to further force the giant glove's grip to weaken. Soon enough, it was pried all the way open, and she leaped from its palm before sending it flying off into a corner.

“Finally!” she gasped. “Some deep inspirations!”
Her respiratory relief would have to wait, however, as she quickly realized that Pinkie Pie was still stuck on the ceiling. At least, compared to dealing with Trixie's handiwork, bringing her airborne ally back down was a relatively simple endeavor, even if she did have to hold onto Pinkie's ankle to keep her from floating off again.

“Whew! Now I know how a balloon must feel!”

With her friends quickly liberating each other, and with their magical adversary temporarily indisposed, Rarity took the opportunity to dispel her shield...and fall to her knees. After not dealing with dangerous magic for such a long time, that was certainly an exhausting ordeal...and a bit too close for comfort as well.
A few moments to gather her strength was all she needed, but that didn't stop someone from rushing over to her aid then. Before she knew it, Applejack was already right beside Rarity, with a hand on her shoulder and a look of pure concern across that freckled face.

“Hey, easy there!” the farmer urged, her voice slightly shaken. “You okay, Rarity!? Are ya hurt anywhere!?”

“I'm fine, darling... Just a little winded...”

The fashionista took a few more firm breaths then. For a moment, Applejack merely watched, ready to jump at the slightest hint of anything wrong with her friend. But as Rarity steadily recovered, and as her complexion grew a little less white, the farm girl felt a familiar irritation arise at her best friend's actions.

“Land sakes...what were y'all thinkin' goin' up against Trixie like that!? You coulda seriously gotten hurt!”

“Ha!” Rarity snapped back. “You mean like how you almost did? I believe I'm the one who should be doing the lecturing here, Applejack!”

“That...that was different...”

“Oh!? And how so?”

I don't care if I get hurt!
That's what she wanted to reply with, but a familiar pang in her chest stopped the farm girl from saying anything. Instead, she simply allowed silence to dominate her response, which her best friend took as a decisive victory on her end.
With that matter apparently settled, a revitalized Rarity stood back up, and Applejack followed suit shortly after. Suddenly, both girls found themselves sandwiched, as the rest of their team rushed over and gathered in for a group hug.

“Oh, Rarity,” Fluttershy said between cheers and laughs, “it's so good to see you again!”

“I'll say!” Sunset added, before turning to regard Rainbow Dash as well. “You both couldn't have come at a better time! How'd you get here so fast, anyway?”

“Uh, duh,” Rainbow laughed, stroking her Geode all the while.

“Wait,” said Twilight. “You ran!? All the way here!? But...I thought only your body could take that kind of velocity for extended periods.”

“True—I am that awesome—but Rarity had a really great idea before I left!”

All eyes turned toward their fashionable friend, who herself wore equal measures of both pride and embarrassment at what she was about to confess to.

“Well...I certainly couldn't stand the thought of not being around to help you girls, and I knew that my magic could likely take Rainbow's speed. So...we, um...appropriated a proper means of transport and—”

“Yeah! We found one of those luggage carrier-things! Rarity put shields up all around it, and she rode in it while I pulled!”

“Um...well, yes,” she admitted awkwardly. The seamstress was hoping to avoid getting that deep into the...less graceful facets of their heroic journey. In hindsight, however, it was probably too much to expect Rainbow not to divulge every little detail.
Her friends all regarded her with a blank stare then, probably unable to fully envision or even believe what they just heard. Much to her surprise, Applejack was the first one to break that silence...with a hearty laugh.

“Boy howdy, I'd have paid anything to see that! You!? Ridin' in a little do-it-yerself cart, prolly bumpin' all around?”

At those bemused provocations, Rarity could only turn her head away in a huff.
“Yes, well, I'm afraid you won't ever get the chance to see something like that. Honestly, it was one of the worst rides I've ever been in. Almost as bumpy as riding around in that truck of yours.”

“Not the same as them fancy limos y'all are used to now, huh, city gal?”

“Hmph!”

It was just like old times...and just like old times, the two friends' barbs devolved into some lighthearted giggling, which quickly spread between the rest of the girls. Their team was finally reunited, and it felt so good!

Unfortunately, the celebrations would have to wait a bit longer. Back on stage, the blowhard-in-a-blanket was beginning to glow with ever-amassing energy. This time, the entire theater began to rumble, and the lights threatened to completely short out as magic erupted from within that cloth covering. Whatever happened next, this was definitely the end.

“You guys ready to finish this?” Sunset asked. Her confidence was reignited, especially as everyone energetically cheered in response. It was time for one last trick to top them all!

They had been insulted... They had been attacked... They had been made a fool of...multiple times now! But no longer...
Enough showmanship. Enough banter. Enough witticisms, games, and stupid little tricks! They would just bring this entire wretched building collapsing to the ground, and bury those harridans under its rubble!

THEY WOULD END THIS ALL NOW!

As their body absolutely overflowed with magic then, it was a simple matter to utterly decimate those flimsy rags surrounding them. From there, they shot back up into the air, and prepared to unleash all of their fury in one final, glorious eruption!
Rather than run away in terror, however, those girls merely remained over by the entryway, with their infuriating leader taking point. She wished to be the figurehead as they were all dragged down into oblivion, huh? A perfect ending, indeed!

But before they could finish these aggravating adversaries off...something was happening. Each of them started to radiate magic then, and it was all being funneled into that fire-headed figurehead. Suddenly, she started to levitate, and she was coursing with their united power. How was that possible!?
No matter! Any second now, this would all be over! This entire place would be a smoking crater! And from the ashes and rubble, they would rise to bring about a new epoch of—wait... Those girls' magic? Somehow, they had channeled all of it into a beam...AND IT WAS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THEM!?

Before they could do anything, the beam made contact, and the energy started to engulf them. So many different essences...all entwined and intermixed so imprecisely into this indistinguishable mess! It was discordant! It was chaotic! It should've been completely unstable, and easily broken!

But it wasn't!
This power....it was unbelievable! Overwhelming! They couldn't fight back...they couldn't do anything!

They.......they......the power inside of Trixie was quickly losing control...their inseparable bond...was being severed, as the magic of friendship overloaded and purified her body. It held on as tightly as it could...but, seconds later, she was released lightly onto the ground, while the dark essence remained trapped within a rainbow orb that was quickly closing in on it.

No......NOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo trace of it remained, as the orb imploded and eradicated everything trapped inside of it. At last, after all of this time, the show was finally over.

****

Trixie awoke to the sight of a familiar face hovering overhead, and was utterly confused by her friend's sudden appearance.

“...Sunset...Shimmer?”

“Hey, Trixie. How are you feeling?”

The young magician groaned as she slowly leaned back up, looking around to see a theater that was a total mess.
“Unhh...what...what happened?”

“You don't remember?”

Trixie took a moment to try and focus her thoughts. There was a large portion of her evening that seemed to be a complete blur, though little details started coming back with enough effort.

“I...I was getting ready to go back on...on stage?”

Again, she looked around, and saw that her supposed stage was now more of a series of charred craters than anything else.
“Did I...miss some things?”

Sunset chuckled lightly.
“You might say that. But you're okay now. Can you stand?”

Sunset helped the performer onto her feet, and they both steadily walked off the stage. Towards the entryway—or, rather, the massive hole where that used to be—the rest of their friends were either helping with repairs or making sure that people were okay. One such person—the popcorn pelter from the front row—actually walked up to Trixie then.

“Excuse me, miss?”

“...Yes?” she replied hesitantly, expecting either more criticisms or a second helping of flung foodstuffs.

“I just wanted to pop over and say...your act was AMAZING!”

“I—wait... Huh!?”

“Your whole 'evil sorceress' routine! It was incredible! I know I was a bit harsh earlier, but so many of these shows just end up being the same tired old routines... But yours truly picked up, my dear! And the way you did battle with so many other performers!? Marvelous! You gals must've been practicing day and night for this!”

“Uh...well...I-I don't really... I-I mean, I...”

“And how did you get us all up into the air like that!?”

“Um,” Sunset interrupted, “maybe we should save the interview for another time. These kind of shows can really take a toll on—”

“It's alright, Sunset,” Trixie said, stepping up to directly address her interviewer. “...The truth is...The Great and Powerful Trixie never reveals her secrets! But! She's very glad that you enjoyed the show! Just remember, the next time you throw food on stage, you do so at the peril of angering an all-powerful sorceress!”

“Ahahahaha! I shall absolutely keep that in mind! And I'll be sure to tell all of my friends to beware of your amazing powers when they come to see you! Until then, my dear!”

With that, Trixie's latest fan walked off, leaving her both ecstatic...and curious.
“I, uh...don't suppose there's any way we could do an encore performance...is there, Sunset?”

“Sorry, Trixie,” Sunset replied with a giggle, “but I think that was more of a one-time special feature than a whole new act.”

The young magician shrugged.
“Eh, I figured... But no matter! The Great and Powerful Trixie will simply have to work even harder to convince everyone of her many talents!”

Compared to earlier, Trixie seemed much less...burdened than before? The performer would never confirm it out-loud, but Sunset believed that she got more joy out of just getting people to be engaged in the spectacle, rather than simply herself.
That was perhaps Trixie's greatest talent as a magician: she could inspire others, and even herself, into believing what seemed impossible.

Sunset gently punched at her confident friend's shoulder before commenting.
"Can't wait to see what your next act will be.”

As Sunset tended to Trixie, and the others focused on some light cleaning, Applejack was busy making various repairs around the theater. Turns out, having someone skilled in carpentry also being a super-hero was a win-win—she could do as much collateral damage as she wanted, considering she'd be fixing it all up anyway.

The repairs were going slowly, however, in part because her attention kept shifting over toward her friends...one friend in particular.

Watching as a fussy Rarity halfheartedly swept up some dirt, the farmer couldn't help but feel...nothing?
No, that wasn't right...

It wasn't that she felt nothing, but rather that she was waiting for...something. In the heat of battle, she and Rarity had acted more-or-less the same as always, which was great! But what about now, when the situation was resolved and the adrenaline was wearing off?
Would she continue to feel fine, or would her heart start firing again on all cylinders? It was the quiet before the storm, and Applejack didn't know which way the winds were blowing. She didn't even know why her best friend was in her sights then. Was she captivated with affection, or just observant with paranoia?

Still...at least she felt pretty calm about everything. There wasn't any real anxiety gripping at her stomach, or racing throughout her mind. It was almost like the fear of the unknown had been far worse than the actual reality of it all. Maybe their leader was right, all along. Maybe things really were back to normal.

Speaking of, Sunset had finally returned from helping Trixie to recover, and offered her assistance to the team's resident carpenter.

“How's it going?”

“Umm...slow but steady. Reckon we'll have this place mostly fixed 'fore closin' time. Can ya hold these fer a sec?”

“Sure.”

Sunset took a handful of nails from Applejack, and steadily handed them back as the farmer hammered in another section of flooring. Once that was finished, she rose up off of the floor before the conversation continued.

“How're you feeling?”

The most honest answer would've been embarrassed, considering how Applejack was obviously being asked about their...prior discussion. But at least her friend wouldn't judge whatever answer she gave.

“...Fine, so far.”

“Any problems? Or nervousness?”

“Well,” the farmer tentatively replied, a hopeful smile forming along her lips as she continued. “None, really. I feel pretty good, actually. Guess you were right, after all.”

“See?” she said, relieved at her friend's own relief. “Told you things would probably go back to normal.”

Their conversation was interrupted then, when a dainty finger lightly tapped against Sunset's shoulder.
“Ahem,” Rarity politely said, “so sorry to interrupt, Sunset, but would you mind if I borrowed Applejack for a moment?”

“Oh, sure! Go for it.”

Sunset stepped aside, and the fashionista calmly approached the farmer. Come to think of it, this was technically the first time they'd get to speak since Rarity returned—without so much craziness going on all around them, that is. Question was, what did she want to say?

“Um... H-Heya, Rarity! Everything oka—”

Before Applejack could even finish the question, Rarity wrapped her arms around the farm girl and gave her the tightest hug that she possibly could. It wasn't a brief exchange either, as she steadily leaned in with all of her weight, and even cooed a little as her leg lifted behind her.

And there it was.
Applejack got exactly what she was waiting for: something. But it wasn't the kind of something that she was desperately praying for. Instead, it was the heart-gradually-racing, face-quickly-warming, mind-completely-shutting-down kind of something. And the longer that affectionate hug persisted, the harder it became for her to do anything but stand there like a clueless fool.

Sunset watched all of that play out then, and she observed as Applejack's face became tomato-red and her eyes grew unblinkingly wide. She might've felt more guilty then, but it was clear that her country friend was too zonked-out to even throw her a questioning glare.

“Or,” she said sheepishly, “...maybe not...”

It was a simple mistake... Sure seemed to be a lot of those going around, lately...

****

When the custodian arrived for his shift at the theater, he was prepared for a long...long night. Apparently, according to upper-management, he was going to be walking into an utter mess this evening. Something about an out-of-control act, a bunch of teenage girls getting a bit rowdy or whatever. Kids these days just don't have much respect for public property, it seems. Of course, the details really didn't matter when he was going to end up cleaning all their messes, regardless...

At least these hooligans took some responsibility for their actions. Based on what he had been told, all of the most substantial damage seemed to have already been repaired. The rows were intact, the double-doors were reinstalled, and even the singed curtains had been replaced with brand-new ones.
Really, it seemed like the only thing that they didn't get a chance to take care of around here was the myriads of props scattered all about. Playing cards practically lined the floors, flowers and handkerchiefs were scattered all along the stage...and a pair of giant gloves were draped across some of the chairs. What exactly was the act that involved all of this!?

Clearly, a heavy-duty vacuum was going to be in order, and that's exactly what he stepped out to go and fetch. Never met a mess before that the Byson 7000 couldn't tackle.

But when the custodian returned with vacuum in hand...it was all gone.
The props had completely disappeared, with no trace of how or who was responsible. He combed the entire theater afterward, searching for any possible clue as to their whereabouts. But there was nothing...

At one point, he swore that he had briefly seen something slither into the ventilation system—greenish fumes of some kind—but that didn't explain anything.

So...what!? Did it all just get up and fly away!?

Next Time: Back Together...Better Than Ever?