Team Star

Chapters

Won’t Back Down
Welcome!
Teams of Fate
Settle In
The Winter Maiden
Secrets
Barely Sparring
The Show Must Go On
Chaos
Eavesdropping
The Forbidden Spell
The Precursor
The Invasion
Phase Two
For My Last Trick
The Curtain Call

Won’t Back Down

Chrysalis fled, breaking through the crowd, back from whence she’d come. Luckily for her, in her time posing as a student, she’d learned the layout of the School for Gifted Unicorns relatively well. And there was another staircase in the garden path she could take up to Celestia’s office.

Starlight held her front legs over her face, trying to keep the green sticky substance from sticking to her fur. “You need not fight any longer small pony, this will all be over very soon.” The voice was almost soothing, but also unbelievably threatening.

Starlgiht struggled, but she was still weakened… she needed to relax somehow… needed to regain her strength.

Celestia’s wings opened shielding her students as she worked to guide them out through all possible exits. The changelings crawled about the walls, now no longer in search, but fully prepared to wreak havoc.

Celestia worried not for the structure, but most for the safety of her citizens. Reaching one hoof up, she touched the crown on her head. It had been centuries since she’d even thought about it. The crown, how heavy it could be.

Sunset, winded, blast into the bunker. “Oh. Wow… spooky place-“ she said, wheezing to catch her breath. It was clear it wasn’t her first attempt at finding them, and when they said ‘bunker’ well they really meant ‘bunker… beneath the school… straight out of a science fiction novel’.

“Sunset?” Rarity asked for the both of them.

“We have to go, the Changeling lady got Starlight.”

Trixie looked around at the empty bunker, no pony knew they were there… “Starlight? What could she possibly want with Starlight?”

Sunset rubbed the back of her neck in a gesture of discomfort and urgency. “Well, she kind of thought she was you. You know how skilled Starlight is and well when the lady saw her; I don’t know.”

Trixie huffed out a breath, cooling herself. This was no longer a matter of ancient power, which she actually had never even wanted in the first place… no, now it was personal. Starlight was her very best friend, and an attack on her was an attack on all Trixie had ever held dear. “Well, take me to her.”

“Yeah… only problem is, we don’t know where she went.”

Holding the crown, Celestia realized now was not the time for her famous, “slow to action” act. While it had been an effect leading strategy, convincing ponies that she was a protector who valued rationale over rash decision-making. Now was the time to make rash decisions.

Celestia teleported herself into her office, or rather, that is what she’d intended to do. Changeling powers were not the same, they weren’t even comparable to that of ponies. As Celestia stood, locked out of her own place of solitude, she began to think.

What kind of spell would dispel her from her own school?

Taking the corner up the stairs, Pinkie, Rainbow, AJ, and Fluttershy ran into the stern mare with straight bangs. Though she was years ahead of them in study, she seemed to be no older than them, in fact she seemed younger.

She was alone, pacing this hall, like it were her job. As everypony else had already evacuated… she resembled a captain resolving to sink with her ship. “Halt.” She said, stopping in her tracks. The unicorn stood so still and stiff she could’ve been mistaken for a mannequin.

“Twilight Sparkle, is someone there?” The professor’s voice called back.

“No need for concern, it is only a couple of students.” Twilight replied. She turned back to PARTY with disinterest. “Haven’t you all heard, the school is under emergency evacuation order?”

Though, PARTY was even less interested. “Yeah, well, we’re not leaving so…” Rainbow Dash replied.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Look, you four might think you’re going to save the day, but the changelings are aimlessly looking for something that is long gone.” She said, rather pleased with herself. Extremely certain in her words.

The four exchanged side-eyed looks, she spoke to them as if they had no idea, as if they were stupid. Though, how could she have known that they knew? “Listen, we know what you know, you know?” Pinkie Pie attempted.

Earning a glare from Twilight. “What’s going on over there?” Celestia called back, the sounds of knocking coming from down the hall.

“These ponies won’t follow the evacuation instructions.” She grumbled in response.

Celestia groaned rather uncharacteristically. She was agitated and confused. Two things Celestia was not well-known to be. “You kids really are going to be the end of me-“ she huffed, sounding more like someone’s grandmother than a princess or professor.
From the other side of the hall came Sunset, Trixie, and Rarity. Celestia’s attention was divided. “Oh, well it’s nice of you to join us’” She said in a fit of exasperated sarcasm.

The trio exchanged uncomfortable glances. “Sorry?” Trixie said finally “I tried to hide the power, like you had asked me to.”

“It doesn’t matter, if I can’t get into this office all of Equestria can fall to ruins.” She replied, accepting defeat. “Chrysalis, or Cosette, or whatever you want to call her has cast protection spell over just the office.”

“What are you hiding in there, Princess?” Rainbow shouted from the end of the hall, still being held at bay by Twilight Sparkle. But, even from afar, the inappropriate nature of her question was noted.

“Well, certainly nothing of that nature, but something of extreme significance.” She sighed, not wanting to burden these fillies with the knowledge she held.

Trixie tapped her foot, wanting to break the tension. “Well, if we can’t get in with magic, and we can’t get in through the door… I guess we’ll just have to think of another way in.”

As they chattered amongst themselves, concocting a plan, the droning buzzing began to close in. The invaders were finally reaching the top floor of the school. It was now or never. The air was thick with tension and indecisiveness. “Some of us will stay back, hold them off.” Apple Jack volunteered.

“Trixie and Celestia should go, they will have the best shot.” Sunset added. Celestia swallowed audibly, the gulp of discomfort, or a sound of decision. Her flat expression seemed to imply the latter.

Celestia looked Trixie over. “You go, I have some business to attend to… and with your Maiden Powers, it will not be much of a fight.”

Twilight immediately abandoned her post. “Princess Celestia! Wait!” She lunged for her. “The relics, Princess, we cannot let Him get the relics.” She nearly crawled, begging for some direction from her professor and ruler, but she did not face the begging one when she finally spoke.

The Princess removed her crown, gently placing it onto Rarity’s head. “I must ask that you flee with this relic immediately. Do not stay and do not fight.” Rarity looked to her team, and then to team PARTY, they all looked so… brave, but bravery was not a substitute for fear, only something that lives alongside it. “Sunset, would you be a doll and do me the honor of sending me home?” Rarity’s tone was shaken. Her legs wobbled as she turned toward her friends, tears welling in her eyes.”

Pinkie Pie looked away, she couldn’t face the feelings bubbling up. And her jolting body and at-attention tail and mane gave it away. “Not even she was sure the outcome of all this.”

Everyone watched in shock, how suddenly composed Celestia had become… how willing to give up her literal crown she was… and how quickly she disappeared from view. And as Rarity turned, Sunset took a deep breath in, and one out. Enveloping her friend in a circle of bi-colored magic. “We’ll see each other again.” She said, her voice rattling as she spoke.

“Oh, I know we will, Darling. You are all my very best friends…”. And as the bubble burst Rarity was gone. Back home, safe, in Ponyville, with her family.

Cadence beat her wings, guiding the students and staff out of the courtyard and into the city. Though most of them had no place else to go, it was clear to everypony it was time to get as far aways as possible.

“Let’s keep it moving.” Sunburst instructed, slowly waving his hoof toward the gate.

“Where’s Twilight?” Shining Armor asked, as familiar and unfamiliar faces rushed past him and out to safety. The trio looked around, their fourth was indeed missing.

“You know how she dotes on Celestia.” Cadence said, rolling her eyes, not stopping her guidance of the fleeing creatures.

Shining Armor’s eyes squinted, thinking, and as he turned to face the school, a hoard of changelings burst through the windows from the inside. They had gone from driven to hostile, and his sister was still inside. “I have to go find her.”

Sunburst stopped, turning to face his teammate. He was so brave and his heart guided him. They two were so different. Sunburst was strong, and could stand up for himself… but he was also a coward. Watching Shining Armor barrel through the crowd in bursts of sprinting and teleporting… he couldn’t help but recall his own sister. He wondered if she’d already gotten out… he wondered if she still hated him. For he had never stopped hating himself for leaving her behind. He was so ashamed, he couldn’t even speak to her.

Suddenly, he took off, following Shining and leaving Cadence to lead the charge of evacuation. Though, she was very capable, it was still annoying.

Welcome!

Trixie’s hooves tapped up the steps. So unfamiliar, yet so much like home. “I can’t believe we’re really here!” She exclaimed excitedly tapping her hooves on the cobbled path leading up to the school.

‘Celestia’s school for gift unicorns’. A school that was well renowned all across Equestria. Though it was not the only of its kind, it was the only school run by an Alicorn. Which, to the other school’s credit, was a large part of its appeal. Ponies from all over Equestria would travel to study there and be taught by the most knowledgeable pony there’d ever been: Princess Celestia.

Trixie was not the most skilled unicorn in her class, but despite her many… many flawed abilities, she had been offered an opportunity to study and perfect her craft. Despite being very good friends with her, Starlight was well aware of her many flaws. “Yes, yes I know, how very exciting.” She said, rather dismissively. “We are all very excited.” She said, stating the blatantly obvious.

Trixie jumped from side to side. “When do you think we’ll get our dorm assignments? Oh, I hope we get to room together, Starlight! It will be just like secondary school.”

Starlight nodded, a small smile creeping across her ever-unimpressed face. “I’m not sure, I’ve never been to a school for gifted unicorns before, Trixie.” She said, cracking a joke, but it seemed to go over her friend’s head completely.

“Oh, well neither have I.” She said certainly. “I supposed we’ll just have to figure it out together.”

“Are ya’ sure ya’ can’t come in with me?” The orange mare asked, the question was rather unlike her. She wasn’t one to run from a fight, but in having to leave her family… she showed a small bit of fear.

“It’s up to you from here, Apple Jack!” The old mare that’d raised her insisted. Her family of four, now looking like a family of three without her in it. Her elder brotherhad pulled the family wagon from the small town of Ponyville. Her grandmother and sister were there to see her off.

She, like only a few others, had no wings, and no horn. But her strength led her here. An invitation of the highest honor. Apple Jack was a bold fighter, and in honing her skill, she may be able to protect her home…

“Alright, ya’ll… well I’ll be home at the end of the semester, don’t go forgettin’ about me now.”

Sunset Shimmer was head of her class, year after year. Entry into the School for Gifted Unicorns was more a matter of time, than a matter of if.

She sat front and center in the large auditorium as the other incoming students filed in noisily. She was quiet, and alone. Her bicolored hair was neatly fashioned into purposefully messy curls, and her yellow coat was brushed perfectly for the occasion.

“Good Morning, Darling, I hope you don’t mind if I take this seat next to you.” The stranger said. She was pristinely white without a hair out of place. Her mane styled flawlessly, and her manner of speaking so formal. Sunset looked her over, shrugging in an apathetic response. “I do apologize, I have a bit of a hard time seeing from far away and would quite enjoy getting to see the Princess up-close, oh, you do understand. No matter, I’ll save my relentless babbling for some other time.” She chuckled to herself, a melodious laugh, it was sweet even to the sternest of ponies.

“I’m… Sunset Shimmer.” She said, finally. She was serious about her studies, but she was not antisocial or rude.

“Rarity, darling, a pleasure to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too…”

As their pleasantries were exchanged, the crowd had begun to fall silent, all eyes on the stage as soft lights came up. A towering white mare with hair that flowed in an unrelenting magical breeze stood before them. Princess Celestia.

Pinkie Pie hopped, skipped, and jumped into her seat. She was quite unlike the other ponies here. Perhaps it was the fact that she wasn’t a unicorn, unusual for “The School of Gifted Unicorns”, however, their exclusion of other ponies had long since been abolished. No, but rather, it was the type of magic that had gained her an invitation to study here in the first place.

Every pony, large and small, was born with a special talent. One that would become fully realized as they matured. Each one giving them special gifts and abilities. Some were more inclined to use their talents for fighting, while others, more suited for everyday life.

Pinkie Pie fell into the category of the former. Though her fluffy pink mane and coat, partnered with her bubbly and lighthearted personality, would lead one to believe she was soft and harmless. Though, one would be wrong.

Rainbow Dash fluttered slowly to keep pace with Fluttershy. The two had known one another since their days in cloudsdale’s primary school, and despite their differences, had become very good friends. Fluttershy and Rainbow were unique… which… in the case of being in a school full of unique ponies, did not quite mean much to them. The reason for their uniqueness being: their acceptance into the School for Gifted Unicorns laid in contingency with them coming as a pair.

So, unlike the other students who were to let fate decide their teammates, Rainbow and Fluttershy were guaranteed to be teammates.

“C’mon, Fluttershy! Can’t you move any faster? We’re going to miss orientation!” Rainbow whined, throwing her front legs down in defeat.

Fluttershy picked up the pace, but only to a slight degree. “Is this better?” She asked sincerely, earning a groan from her partner. She chuckled, moved only slightly faster once more. “We’ll make it, don’t worry.”

As the chatter died down, the pair entered the auditorium, slipping across the back wall. Awkwardly, as they had only barely made it there in time. “See! I told you!” Rainbow whisper-shouted.

Fluttershy giggled softly under her breath. “I told you we would make it.”

Celestia’s long white limbs and slim figure captured the attention of the entire auditorium. Leading them from booming chatter, to silent awe. The vast majority of them never having seen the Princess in the flesh before. Those who were raised in the city of Canterlot, having only had the honor during special occasions and holidays.

“It is my incredible honor to welcome you all into my dear school. In my many years, I have learned that there are so many untapped forms of magic in this realm, magic that may very well have been overlooked.” She stood still, her very presence was commanding, but she seemed to be… likable, approachable, but also… untouchable. “That is why I have opened my school to all creatures, to train not only the next generation of hunter and huntress unicorns, but a massive fleet to protect the entirety of Equestria.” A thunderous applause overtook the silence in the enormous room.

As Celestia looked around, the auditorium seemed rather empty. The facts of the matter were, in no particular order:

The majority of threats against Equestria had dwindled in the past hundred years. There seemed to be less and less need for hunters and huntresses.
Ponies simply did not want to fight any longer. In an era of seemed peace, it was less of a colt or filly’s dream of fighting for their lives.

“You all are not a common breed of pony.” Celestia continued. “To come here, in hopes of becoming warriors, more so than some already are... You are brave and selfless ponies, who I am privileged to be among”. Coos of approval spread through the students. “It is my honor to welcome you to my school, and I cannot wait to see what you will all become.” She cleared her throat, signaling that her speech had not quite finished yet. “Before you all disperse, please head to the courtyard. There, you will be given your dorm assignments!” She bowed… royally. “Thank you, and see you all very soon.”

Teams of Fate

Sunset had waited years for this moment. Though, while every pony there would share that sentiments, it meant more to her. Two years prior she had been offered an invitation to study at this very school, along side her brother. It was clear Celestia intended to have a team of two brother-sister pairs, but her dream did not come to fruition.

Sunset’s parents did not believe in the way of the huntress. A stallion, however, could be a hunter, but a mare… they would never allow her to go. So, Sunset waited. Waiting until she was an adult pony who could make her own decisions. And as such, she left. A scrunched-up paper note was all that her bigoted parents had to remember her by.

As she stood in the courtyard, Sunset understood her place in Equestria. She wouldn’t let any pony else dissuade her from chasing her destiny. Her stern and serious demeanor, however did not dissuade other ponies from attempting to make small talk with her. “Oh Miss Sunset, you don’t mind if I stand next to you once more, do you?” The pony who’s sat beside her finding her way back.

“Oh, Rarity, right?” Sunset scratched her brain for the name of the gorgeous mare before her. “Sure, yeah, any pony can stand anywhere they want out here.” She replied awkwardly.

Before her, a cloaked stallion strode across the platform they were intended to stand on. He was very evidently in a sort of leadership role. “Please stand behind this line.” He said, as he traced his hoof over the painted line on the concrete. His voice sounded oh-so familiar.

Sunset and Rarity slowly scooted their front hooves off the yellow paint, following his direction. He paid them no mind, and went on to the next group of incoming students standing over his beloved yellow line. “What a stickler.” Rarity said half whispering to her new acquaintance.

Sunset broke a smile as a small chuckle left her lips. “I feel like I know that pony.” She said. “I just can’t put my hoof on it right now.”

Apple Jack’s hooves clamored against the concrete cobbles. As a farm pony, dirt roads and black-top paths were more her speed. And though, she wasn’t exactly opposed to coming all the way to Canterlot, she was already starting to miss her home and her family.

She stood in the courtyard, along the back line of students. Sighing out, as she tried not to look pitiful in a crowd full of wide-smiles.

“What’s got you down?” A soft almost inaudible voice said. Apple Jack hadn’t even heard the patter of wings or the tapping of hoof-steps. The sudden interruption of her thoughts caused her to jump at the sound.

“Oh, I’m really happy to be here, I just… I’ve never stayed away from ma’ family before.” Apple Jack confessed. The mare had the most compassionate eyes and soft pink mane. Her entire aura read as trustworthy and sympathetic.

“It’s alright to be sad…“ she said “…I’m Fluttershy.” She added comfortingly, though, her voice couldn’t have been more than a whisper. Apple Jack could hardly hear her above the noise.

Apple Jack cracked a smile. “Oh I’m Apple Jack, pleasure ta’ meet ya’”.

“Fluttershy!” A booming voice filled with rasp came over them. “I told you! Don’t go fluttering away!” She was colorful and hard to take one’s eyes off of. “All you wanna do is be all ‘quiet’ and ‘nice’, but it’s not nice when you run away and I can’t find you!”

Fluttershy lowered her head between her shoulders, though a small smile crept across her lips. “Sorry, Rainbow…” she whispered uncomfortably.

“And who are you even talking to?” The loud-one insisted. Apple Jack looked her over. She had never seen a pony so mesmerizing. Her mouth fell agape, and for once she was at a loss for words. “Huh, well, are you just going to stare at me; I know I’m super easy-on-the-eyes, but you can speak when spoken to!”

Apple Jack gulped down a lump of discomfort, “Im-a… Apple Jack.”

“Well, Apple Jack, I’m sure the pleasure is all yours to have met me.” She snapped. “Now if you’ll excuse us.”

Fluttershy shuttered uncomfortably mouthing a sheepish “sorry” as she was pulled away.

Celestia appeared, like she always had. In a flamboyant burst of teleportation glow. Standing just beyond the yellow line, the students had been instructed not to cross.

“Welcome once more, fillies and gentle-colts.” She began. “I’m sure you’ve all heard how we will be deciding your dorm assignments, correct?” She asked as if it weren’t rhetorical. The sound of crickets chirping in the distance was all the answer she needed. “Oh of course not, that is one of the well-kept secrets here at my school.” She chuckled, deciding herself a jokester. “I shall explain it to you here, and then we shall begin!”

Celestia took a deep breath as the four cloaked ponies took to her side. Removing their hoods to reveal: A bulky white stallion with a blue mane, A pink coated, tri-colored maned unicorn mare, an orange coated stallion, with a complimenting mane, and lastly: a purple coated unicorn mare with a tri-colored mane as well.

“These are just a few of your upperclassmen, they will be watching over this exercise to ensure safety.” This earned a few confused responses from the audience. “But, worry not, this is hardly a battle course!” Celestia insisted in an attempt to calm their nerves. “As you go into the course, take great care. You will need to find talismans hidden throughout the forest. Though, there is only one for every four of you present.” This statement also earned confusion from the crowd. “You must partner with the first four ponies you lay eyes upon, and work together to find one of these talismans and bring them to the altar.” As she spoke, the ground began to shake, as a counter-like altar lifted from the ground. “These ponies will not only be your dorm mates, but your teammates for the rest of your time here.” Celestia swallowed her excitement. “So, when you are all ready, we shall begin.”

Sunset looked them over… the cloaked pony with a pattered coat and circular glasses. She did know that pony, as a matter of fact he was her very own brother… only Sunburst hadn’t even spoke to her… he couldn’t have forgotten her. It seemed more probable that he was simply ignoring her.

Perhaps he agreed with their parents, he didn’t see her as a huntress. She sighed out, turning her attention away from him. Prepared to prove her worth.

Starlight stood at the edge of the slope, watching as the other students made their way into the forest course. “Hey, Trix, just look for me down there, okay?” She said seriously, looking over at her friend.

“So we can be teammates?” Trixie’s voice said, wiggling her eyebrows with enthusiasm.

“Yeah…” starlight smiled. Though her intentions were more protective than that. Starlight was aware that Trixie was not the strongest among them, and honestly, she was dumbfounded that she had even been invited to study here in the first place. But, she loved her friend, and was glad to have a familiar face around… so, she wanted to protect her. “Just find me down there, alright?” She insisted.

Trixie nodded enthusiastically, throwing a puff of smoke before making her sliding descent. Leaving Starlight to choke on the cloud and wave her hooves aggressively.

Pinkie Pie hopped joyfully through the forest, ahead of all her classmates. “I wonder who will want to be on my team!” She said aloud to herself. “Oh any pony would want to be on my team!” She said cheerfully inflating her own ego.

As she hopped into a clearing, grunting and groaning could be heard in the surrounding trees. Soon, and as expected, a mare pulled a lassoed manticore through the trees.

Pinkie Pie rushed to the strangers aid. “What are you doin’?” She asked as she took hold of the lasso to assist with pulling the large lion-like creature into the open.

The orange mare huffed out an exaggerated breath. “Clearly, capturing this here critter?”

“But Why?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Cause the darned thing attacked me!” The other pony exclaimed.

“A creature!” Cried out a soft yet suddenly loud and urgent voice. “Release that creature at once!” Demanded the familiar face. The mare turned to face the pegasus that was making demands.

“Fluttershy?” The stranger said, it was clear these ponies knew each other, leaving Pinkie Pie the odd-man-out. “This thing attacked me, I’m well with in my rights ta’ capture it.”

Fluttershy rushed over to the creature, which spared no time, attempting to swat her out of the sky. “He’s hurt!” She said inches away from the ferocious beast.

“Fluttershy! Fluttershy!” The raspy voice sounded through the forest.

“Apple Jack! Let him go! He’s hurt!” Fluttershy insisted, Pinkie Pie complied, letting go of the lasso she had been assisting in pulling.

Apple Jack, on the other had, was not as willing to relent, her body jerking forward as Pinkie Pie’s assistance ceased. “I don’t care if he’s hurt, darn thing can’t go around attacking ponies!”

Fluttershy sighed, staring deeply into the eyes of the manticore. Soon, all of its aggravation and pain seemed to slip away. Slowly but surely, the creature laid down peacefully, no longer straining against its bounds, no longer wailing or fighting.

She fluttered to her hooves, as Pinkie Pie and Apple Jack moved to her side, watching her for the next move. Fluttershy gently lifted the front paw of the manticore, revealing something lodged between its paw-pads. “It was hurt, Apple Jack… it was only reacting out of pain. Your actions only aggravated it further.” The trio made eye contact. “If we are going to be teammates, we will have to work together.”

Apple Jack gently took hold of the item lodged in the creatures paw, dislodging it with great care. “You got it… um, Apple Jack?” Pinkie Pie asked carefully.

“I’m real sorry, I guess I was just reactin’ too. We ain’t so different.” Apple Jack insisted. Holding up the splinter. “Looks like we found our talisman.”

As she spoke, the Rainbow mare took the corner into the opening. “Fluttershy there you are! We need to…” her voice trailed away, as disappointment washed over her “seems like you’ve already picked our team for us…” she looked over the two earth ponies and rolled her eyes, focusing on the pony she’d met before. “…and found the talisman… awesome!” She said sarcastically. “I guess we’d better head back then.”

Rarity sat, organizing strange stones she’d found along the forest floor. “Hey, you.” The lavender-coated stranger said. “Have you seen a happy-go-lucky blue unicorn running around here.”

Rarity shook her head, not looking up at the stranger. “No, darling, I’ve hardly seen any pony. I’m going quite out of my way not to make eye contact so that I may have a better team, oh well you do understand.”

In her rush to find Trixie, Starlight had clearly forgotten the team-making rules. “Oh, so you’re saying I’m not good enough to be apart of your team?” Starlight asked, clearly offended.

“I did not say that, darling. Though, with that type of insecurity, it may be true.” Rarity said, assembling her rocks in no particular order.

“I’ll have you know-“ Starlight began, revving her horn with anger and frustration. “I graduated top of my class, any pony, especially some pony like you would be lucky to have me as a teammate!”

Rarity looked up at her, a coy smile playing on her perfectly made-up face. “Fine, teammates it is.”

“What!” Starlight stammered, falling back onto her hooves. “I didn’t mean-“

“This is what you quite wanted, is it not?” Rarity said. “I’m Rarity, doll, just Rarity to you. And who might you be?”

Starlight fumed, feeling like she’d somehow been bested. “Starlight Glimmer.” She answered reluctantly.

“Fine, Fine. Let’s be off to find your friend, then, Starlight Glimmer.”

Sunset Shimmer revved her magic quickly, before blasted a path through the trees. She was not a huge fan of mazes, and was hardly a fan of scavenger hunts. So, to her, this was a huge waste of power and time.

“Quite the skill you’ve got there!” A strange voice came from behind.

Sunset turned slowly, with a tinge of regret as she looked the pony over. “… thanks.” She said awkwardly. She turned back toward the opening and made her way through.

The stranger pattered her hoofs after her. “Now that we’re teammates, can I recommend a little more… showmanship?”

Sunset’s eye twitched. “What?” She asked, turning around.

“Something a little like this…” She threw down another smoke bomb and began bouncing to and fro. From tree to tree, movement hidden behind the smoke screen.

Sunset shielded herself in an orb of magic, “That’s… nice, but I’m trying to find a talisman, not put on a magic show, sorry.” Sunset replied, bursting the bubble as the smoke cleared.

Trixie huffed, leaning back and allowing herself to fall from the uppermost branch on the tree. Somehow, landing squarely on her hooves without any indication of pain.

Sunset rolled her eyes. “Are you coming with me or not?”

“No, see, because it is you who shall be coming with me.” Trixie said cockily. “For I have found the talisman.” She said, pulling the chess piece from her cloak.

“What!?” Sunset cried out in surprise. “When?”

“It was in that tree.” Trixie said simply, a large grin playing on her face. “I saw it before you blasted your little clearing through the forest, maybe you should be a little bit more observant.”

Sunset grumbled. “Well, then, what was all that extra malarkey?”

“Slight of hoof, if you will!” Trixie said excitedly. “Though, I believe we’d ought to find two more teammates before we head back.”

“There’s some pony I know”

“I too, know some pony.”

“Then, let’s get a move on.”

Settle In

“So what should our team name be, I’m thinking Rainbow and the Dashes.” Rainbow said enthusiastically. The others began to laugh, but judging by her silent frown, Rainbow Dash was serious about her suggestion.

“Why don’t we try ta’ come up with something that’s, dunno, representin’ all of us?” Apple Jack chimed in.

The dorm had four single beds, one in each corner of the room. Though their belongings had been brought up, no pony had even begun to unpack.

“Well we have a ‘P’, an ‘A’, a ‘R’ and a ‘F’.” Pinkie Pie said, her train-of-thought evident, but not exactly on the same track as every pony else’s.

“You think our name should be… Parf?” Rainbow asked with narrowed brows.

“Oh man!” Pinkie Exclaimed. “No, cause that sounds like Barf. Gross. Ew.” It was clear that no pony had any ideas. “What about… PARTY!”

“Party?” Fluttershy asked quietly.

“Yeah! It could stand for ‘Pinkie Pie, Apple Jack, Rainbow Dash, and The Yellow one!”

“Well… it’s better than Parf.” Apple Jack replied, clearly not impressed.

Fluttershy frowned solemnly. “So my name doesn’t even get to be part of the name…”

“You’re the yellow one… duh?” Pinkie Pie said energetically.

Fluttershy pulled a face, not sure if being reduced to her fur color was something she was all that interested in… but honestly, it seemed like a much better option, than ‘PARF’.

Celestia sat at her large desk in the office. The office had a windowed roof that enveloped the circular room, and despite its seemed transparent nature, it was only see-through from the inside.

“Thank you for coming, Starswirl, it is my great honor to have a pony of your stature pay me a visit.” Celestia said holding her front hooves together atop the desk.

Across from her sat an ancient stallion, well beyond her in years, his mere presence was an anomaly. “To what do I owe the honor of such an invitation, Princess Celestia?”

Celestia hummed. “I’m well aware that you have your own school to run, Starswirl, though, I have news that must be shared with you.” The turn of the corners of her mouth, forced to a serious and stern look.

Starswirl lower his head, removing the hat he was known for wearing. “In regards to-“ he scanned her face for more information. He had known her since her filly-hood.

“The maidens.” Celestia spat bluntly. “Shall I call upon you for something greater, it would be a summons and not an invitation.” It had been years since his claims, claiming to have been the warlock as old as time…

Starswirl nodded knowingly. “It is my understanding that you are in possession of the Spring Maiden. What more need be done?”

Celestia looked him over, narrowing her eyes, resting upon a ‘trusted confidant’. “The Winter Maiden is the source of my worries. There was an attack on her home, now she resides in my seasonal studies department.”

“The winter maiden is but an old mare now.” Starswirl insisted. “It is only a matter of time before the power is passed on and-“

“Yes, that is certain, but we cannot allow the maiden’s power to fall into the hands of a malicious attacker.” Celestia insisted, as if Starswirl were not hearing her.

“And what are we to do?”

“We must find a mare capable of becoming the next Winter Maiden.” Celestia insisted.

Rarity was intricately decorating her corner of the room. “Oh, doesn’t it just look marvelous.” In her creative stupor, she’d hardly noticed her teammates debate.

“Care to weigh in, Rarity?” Sunset asked, finally warming up to her more personable side.

“Weigh in on what, doll?” Rarity asked, completely oblivious.

“A team name?” Starlight demanded, as it should have been obvious.

“Oh darlings, I thought it was completely obvious. ‘SSTR’ it’s quite like ‘Star’, does it not?” Rarity hummed happily. “Team Star has a wonderful ring to it.”

“You there, boy” the unfamiliar mare with no visible identification said as she approached the office chamber door.

Sunburst stood at attention, cloaked and ready to fend off any intruder. Though, this intruder did not seem all-that threatening. “Yes, ma’am. What can I assist you with today?”

The mare was fine, an average looking pony. Nothing extraordinary about her. “I need to find my way to the chamber hall of seasonal study.”

Sunburst stiffened, the seasonal study hall was closed off to students and visitors, only high ranking huntsmen and huntresses were allowed entry. “I apologize, but the chamber hall is off-limits to visitors.”

“Oh, well it is a good thing I am a licensed Huntress… in-training, then isn’t it?” She chucked sweetly, batting her eyes as she spoke.

Sunburst shook his head slightly in disapproval. “Then you would know you need a guide and pre-schedule and approved appointment to enter that wing of the school.”

“The last time I was here was the coronation of the new Winter Maiden, so it has been quite some time.” She seemed to offer this as some sort of apology or excuse.

Sunburst narrowed his eyes, knowing well that there had been no Winter coronation for near a century, and this pony was not nearly old enough to have attended the last coronation. Flicking back his head, he removed the hood of his cloak. “It is time that you left. I will not feed you information about the seasonal study hall, and I will not let you scavenge for information about the maidens. You may return when you have a guide and an appointment.”

The mare chuckled. “Oh! The hostility, it tells me all I need to know.” She said happily skipping off.

Starswirl tapped his foot at the front steps of the school, awaiting his ever-tardy assistant. Chipperly, the pale green unicorn hopped to his side. Her auburn mane tied in a bun and her eyes spelling of wonder. “Cossette, how is it that you are always late?”

Cossette rolled her eyes playfully. “Oh Starswirl, you old coot.” She said, teasing him as if they were best friends. “You know I had my own business to attend to while we were here.” Her smile twisted across her face. “I know where they are keeping the Winter Maiden.”

Starswirl rolled his eyes. “As do I, though, my plan was to present you as a worthy candidate. You sneaking around, scavenging information will not shine favorably.”

“Though, if my ‘shine’ is not ‘favorable’ we can simply take the power for ourselves.” Cossette insisted.

“Oh yes, darling girl, because that went so well the first time you attempted to take the power for yourself.” Starswirl was callous and sarcastic. “Follow my lead and perhaps we can get the power through the proper channels. If all else fails, then you may resort back to your conniving ways, alright?”

The Winter Maiden

Starlight leapt into the air, effortlessly avoiding the blast from Sunset. As teammates, they were intended to bring the best out in one another. And being that their skill levels were so evenly matched, they were great sparring partners.

“Is that the best you’ve got?” She teased. The grin on her face selling the all-in-good-fun nature of their fight.

In an instant Sunset was gone, and reappeared behind her. “Nope.” She said, blasting a wave of fire, singeing the end of Starlight’s tail. She quickly followed up with a gust of air to put it out. “You’ve got to keep your eyes on me, Starlight.”

Starlight huffed out a breath, “Whatever.” She chuckled. “I’m just tired from our late night training in the coliseum.” She explained her excuse.

“Sure you are.” Sunset chattered exaggeratedly.

The past few days had gone on: class, lunch, train, more class, and if you were particularly involved, you could volunteer your team for group training after school.

Team Star had signed up for almost every voluntary training, which left them all fatigued beyond belief.

“Miss Lulamoon?” A voice said from the courtyard bleachers. The four mates turned to face her, the Princess.

Trixie turned quickly, snapping her attention to the Alicorn calling for her. “Yes, yes… Princess Celestia… how can I help you?”

“I require your presence.” She said simply. The mare at her side in the blue cloak offering no emotion for the team to read. “Just you, alone, your teammates may continue their training.”

Cossette stood at the chamber door once more. It was guarded by the same stallion as before, though she feared him not. “Good Day, Starburst.” She said chipperly making her approach.

“It’s Sunburst. I’m not a candy.” He grumbled, her image scratching the memory of their recent encounter only a few days prior. “Hadn’t I told you not to return without a guide?”.

“Would one, Starswirl The Bearded, be an adequate guide?” She asked, her words drowning in snark.

Sunburst’s legs and spine stiffened at the mention of the renowned philosopher and magician. He racked his brain, what would Celestia say? Surely Starswirl had clearance, but this pony was evidently up to no good.

It was then that he took the corner, a stallion he’d only ever seen in passing. Famed and even fabled. “Mister Starswirl.” Sunburst bowed halfway before he looked up to face him.

“Rise boy! No need to bow before an equal. You are but a year from license and are already a royal guardian. Sunburst, I’ve heard much of you.” Starswirl said, he was polite, buttering him up. Though, Sunburst had always heard of his serious and unforgiving nature.

“And I much of you. Though, it is my duty to ask the reason for your visit. Your invitation was for days ago, and Celestia is not expecting you.”

“I beg to differ, young man!” He laughed, his voice horse from old age. “This mare is my recommendation for the seasonal study that is being conducted.” He spoke so certainly, and properly in the jargon.

Sunburst stalled a moment, scrunching his nose up his muzzle. “You mean, her?” He asked, absolutely refusing to believe a mare so demanding would be given the power of the Winter Maiden. Though, it was not his call to make, it was that of Celestia.

“Certainly.” Starswirl said finally.

Sunburst pulled a face, placing the hood over his head. “Celestia is not in her chamber. You are permitted to await her return, but your request to enter the seasonal study is denied.”

“You dare defy me, boy?” Starswirl shouted. There it was, his true colors. Sunburst was no fool.

“This is my jurisdiction, sir. With all due respect, I need not defy you if you have no authority within this school.”

“So, no offense…” Rainbow Dash began. “What even are your ‘talents’?”

Apple Jack and Pinkie Pie exchanged a knowing glance. She had a strange bigotry toward Earth Ponies, but it was not uncommon among Unicorns and Pegasi.

Apple Jack raised an eyebrow. “Did you not see me capture the manticore on my own?” She laughed dismissively. Standing in the court yard, she waltzed over to a table where two teams sat eating their lunch. Without an ounce of strain, she lifted the weighted table with 8 full-grown stallions seated on it. “Apologies fellas.”

They all grumbled as she gently placed them back where they’d once been. Rainbow’s mouth hung open.

“Ya’d better shut your trap, speed-racer, wouldn’t wanna catch flies.” She said sarcastically with a wink as she passed her.

All attention turned to Pinkie Pie, “I’d better keep mine a secret.” She said as she giggled.

The trio hummed in annoyance. “Oh c’mon.” Rainbow insisted.

Apple Jack joining in “Ya’ gotta show us now!”

Pinkie Pie laughed “where’s the fun in showing everybody your special talent, don’t you guys like surprises?” She was smiling ear-to-ear. “I love surprises!” Her body low, she pressed off the ground and began to hop around crazily. “It’s like a plot-twist but in real life!”

The three shared side-eyed glances. “Alright, alright.”

“Have you ever heard the fable of four maidens?” Celestia asked.

Trixie followed the pair in front of her, up the steps, toward the office, then back again, into a strangely shaped hallway. They found themselves inside an elevator, though Trixie had never seen an elevator inside the school before. “I guess I’ve heard it… as a filly.” She responded.

The cloaked mare let out a breath of laughter through her nose.

“I’d like you to know that story is all very true.” Celestia insisted. “A millennium ago, an Alicorn Princess blessed the power of the seasons to four ponies.”

“So… there are more Alicorns? Is that what you mean to tell me?” Trixie hummed, not sure the relevance of additional Alicorns.

“Well, yes.” Celestia said, “but that is not the point, as the Maidens are not necessarily Alicorns all of the time, sure some of them may be, but the action of becoming an Alicorn is completely independent from the maiden powers.”

Trixie took a deep breath. Growing uneasy and confused. “Right…Okay.”

Celestia huffed out “I know you have not always been the most skilled at magic, but you are crafty… and well, no pony would anticipate your possession of the maiden power.”

“Wait- whoa.” Trixie blurted out, “You’re telling me you want to give me… powers? Am I understanding you right? And mainly because you think… I suck?”

Celestia shook her head. “Perhaps my explanation wasn’t clear.” She sighed as the elevator door opened. “The maiden power is something that needs to be protected, and with training you could learn to hone the skill. I need a youthful pony that is malleable and has a strong support system. That is why I chose you.”

Trixie thought it over for only a moment, “Starlight and Sunset? What about them? They are like, on a whole other level…”

Celestia hummed as they walked out into a warehouse-like room. “Be that as it may, you are the pony I’ve chosen.”

Trixie looked up at her professor. “I’m not sure I understand. You think I’m a total loser… and that is the reason you chose me?”

“It is not exactly a ‘lack of skill’,” Celestia corrected, using much kinder words. “but a different skill entirely. Your ingenuity, your willingness to find a way to close the skill-gap.” Celestia insisted. “Ponies will not expect a pony with lower level magic skills to possess such power.”

Trixie hummed a tune of uncertainty. “Is this something I have a choice in?” She asked, not actually interested, or invested.

Celestia and the cloaked student exchanged glances. Humming, having expected this to be a more jovial conversation. “Unfortunately, the decision has been made.”

Secrets

Trixie stood facing the glowing cylinder, that could’ve been straight out of a science fiction novel. “Can you at least tell me what kind of power we’re talking about here?” She asked, eyes like windows on a winter’s morning. “See- one day, I’m an average street magician in secondary school, and the next you’re telling me I’m going to be the Winter Maiden. Which, up until a few minutes ago, I thought was a fairy tale meant to teach kids about the joys of kindness or some malarkey…”

The hooded student then disrobed. She was slender, with wings that sat evenly folded to her sides.

Though, it was a common misconception that the top-of-their-class senior team was entirely composed of unicorns, it was now evident that that was not the case. Her eyes then began to glow out the sides, a purplish flame. Without a a flap of her wings, she lifted off the ground. It was unlike anything Trixie had ever seen. As she rose, a soft, twinkling breeze fluttered about her. Growing stronger by the second, the wind wasn’t cold, nor was it large. It was well-contained. This pony had been a maiden for quite some time given her exquisite control of the power.

“The Maiden power is the closest to pure, raw magic, any pony can ever possess.” The pink mare had purple tips to her now flared wings, and a long mess of a mane that spun in the gusts of her power. “It is something you can be taught to control, it is something you will hide within you- and train in secret until the time is right.”

Trixie stood, hair billowing out in the air. Celestia stood proudly, as if the display somehow proved something. The small blue mare stared up in disbelief. Her eyes wider than they must have ever been. She struggled with basic teleportation, and somehow the Princess… these two princesses, expected her to learn such incredible power? “I think you’ve got the wrong pony.” She shouted seriously against the wind.

Celestia looked her over. “You are a pony nobody will suspect.” She repeated, but it seemed to be doing no convincing whatsoever. “I know you are capable. I’ve seen you spar, I know you are a power worth investing in.”

As the Alicorn lowered herself, the swell of power subsided. “And we will be here to guide you, and your team will be around to protect you.” She said.

“Though, no ponies else, must know of this.” Celestia said finally. “This is a secret to be kept by the three of us, and your three teammates.” Trixie’s glassy eye’s were wells at by that point, this wasn’t what she’d wanted, never in a million years would she have wanted this… but it seemed to be her fate. It was inescapable. She contemplated turning and running, but this was Princess Celestia she was up against. There really was nothing more left to say.

She stood before the pony in the glass vessel. She was old, barely living, it was clear it was only a matter of time for her. “Ponies seek the powers of the Maiden’s, they hunt ponies down. In giving the power to you, it greatly decreases the chances of it falling into the wrong hooves.”

Trixie’s ears perked up at the word ‘hunt’ after all, that was what she was intended to learn how to do. Perhaps the power would make her a better huntress, and those who may hunt her for her power would be outsmarted or bested. “…Fine.” She said, relenting. “It’s clear I have no choice. So, it is better I accept it now than delay the inevitable.” The strange over-confidence she’d always possessed prevailed. She could put her game-face on, for resistance was futile.

Cossette began to rear her green ball of magic. “You don’t dare stand between us and destiny, you fool!” Her voice was sour, and sharp against his ears.

Starswirl held up a hoof to his assistant. “Cossette, pet, keep your cool. Proper channels, this lad is just doing his job. He knows not the power you will soon possess.”

Sunburst rolled his eyes, completely uninvested in any fights.

Sunburst shuttered as the Princess appeared at his side in an attention-capturing poof of glimmering light. “It has been done, Sunburst.” To this, he nodded, smirking at the pair of visitors as he took his leave. “Starswirl, care to speak independently?”

“My name is Cadence, by the way.” The Alicorn mare said. She redawned the cloak. “I am the Spring Maiden.”

Trixie looked over her body in the reflection of the broken glass. The mare who had held the power, and had simply given up the fight.

Trixie stared into her eyes, as the glimmer slipped away. She was no more. Looking through the eyes of the old mare, Trixie knew more. Somehow, her mind was able to comprehend the history of the Maiden’s soul. Trixie looked no different, but felt so invaded. “That’s nice.” She said simply. “Can I go back to my room now?” She asked coldly.

Returning to the office, Starswirl and Celestia convened. “That mare outside my office, is she from your school?” She tapped her foot against the desk.

The age-old stallion’s face gave nothing away. “Formerly, she graduated in spring, but stayed to take employment as my personal assistant.”

Celestia traced her hoof over the top of the desk, looking him over. “And you think she is a suitable fit for the Winter Maiden’s power?”

Starswirl held the sternness in his face. “It is my opinion that she has more than proven herself capable of wielding the power.”

Celestia nodded slowly. “Of course… well, then tomorrow I shall have her in a sparing match with one of my graduating class students. How does that sound?”

Starswirl’s mouth turned up at the corners. Such a coy smile, he’d likely not even noticed a change in his own expression. “In your coliseum?”

“Where else, old friend?”

“So, what was your meeting with the Princess about?” Sunset asked, throwing her body down onto the make-shift bunk bed she’d made with Starlight in Trixie’s absence.

Trixie was unlike herself, sulking. She sat on her bed in the corner. “It is a long story, actually, but it’s something I’m supposed to tell you guys about…”

The three of them turned their attention to her seriously. “Well don’t leave us waiting, darling” Rarity said urgently.

“Do you know the Fable of the Four Maidens?” Trixie began.

Several Weeks Prior

A semi-transparent deep blue Alicorn appeared before Celestia. A projection from the miniature music box tech she had devised. “Sister.” The serious voice came. The metallic armor glimmering in the sunset. “It has come to my attention that our once-trusted confidant is involved in dealings that will surely interest you.”

Celestia’s eyes narrowed at the report from her only sibling. There were four schools like hers in Equestria, and though Luna was not the headmaster of one, she was an ambassador for learning across the nation. The schools were: Celestia’s, Starswirl’s, Dr. Hooves, and Spitfire’s. Though, Dr. Hooves and Spitfire had proven themselves through years of hard work and study, Starswirl and Celestia were gifted in long-lasting life. Celestia being without age, and Starswirl’s magical manipulation of Chaos allowing him to evade his time. They’re seemed immortality making them symbols for knowledge. Though, even in their young years, the sisters were weary of Starswirl’s lust for power. “Go on.”

“It is my understanding that Starswirl is conspiring with Him.” She said commandingly. “He was promised yet another life extension, if he could secure the power of the Winter Maiden on His behalf.”

“How have you come upon this knowledge?” Celestia asked.

Luna sighed, “He is not exactly discreet. It is well-known that the chaos well had depleted during His imprisonment, but since His escape… Starswirl has been… different.”

Celestia nodded, fully aware of the state of the Winter Maiden. And the chaotic key to Starswirl’s long-life. “We will concoct a plan, then.”

“It is best we find a pony so unpopular.” Luna swallowed the unkindness of her words. “So that she may not be suspected.”

“Yes, yes…” Celestia reeled. “It is not too late for me to add a few more students to my incoming class.”

Team PARTY stood at the edge of the courtyard. “It’s just a sparring match.” Rainbow Dash insisted, bolting from corner to corner in the blink of an eye. “

Fluttershy’s wings patted in silence. Her tail barely off the ground. “Good luck!” She said quietly. The opposing team exchanging glances as they could hardly hear what she’d said.

Apple Jack took her mark, and as the whistle blew, Pinkie Pie bolted ahead of her in a single leap. Connecting her hooves with the head of a stallion in the opposing team. “Sorry!” She shouted happily as she used him as another launch point. He stumbled to the floor as she pressed off him with all her might.

Rainbow Dash blasted past, toward their team’s Pegasus. Capturing her In a whirlwind of rainbow lines, the mare was left spinning and out for the count. All the while Rainbow pulled out of the move without even a teeter.

As a speedy earth pony barreled toward Fluttershy, Apple Jack acted quickly, bucking him off his feet entirely. And in an instant, whimpering could be heard from behind, it seemed he’d been mildly injured by the kick.

Fluttershy stared intently at the fourth team member, leaving them semi-petrified. Apple Jack slowly turned to face the frozen pony, tipping them over stiffly.

As the whistle blew, Team Party was victorious in their first graded sparring match.

“So… you’re the Winter Maiden?” Starlight asked in an attempt to get to the point.

Sunset stamped her hoof into the floorboards angrily. “I’m more wrapped up in the fact that they didn’t even give you a choice!”

Rarity joined her in her anger. “Yes, Darling, no pony should ever have their destiny left in the hooves of another. That is certain.”

Trixie shrugged her shoulders as her head hung between them. “It was this or risk it falling into the hooves of some pony who would use it for evil.” She repeated the explanation she’d been given, but it was not met with positive reception. “And I couldn’t say ‘no’ to Princess Celestia… she’s literally like… the ruler of this place? And like 100 times our age.”

Starlight rolled off the top bunk, gently levitating herself to the floor. She could sense the uncharacteristic discouragement in Trixie’s voice. “You know what, we’ve got your back.” She said as if the discussion was over. “Whatever life throws at us, we’re a team. We’re gonna get through this.”

“One more thing,” Trixie began. “We can’t tell anypony else… And I can only train to use the power in complete secret.”

Barely Sparring

The seats of the coliseum were packed to the brim. Cadence, one of Celestia’s prized seniors: with her team of four, had fended off countless minor attacks on Equestria. Though, a thorough or major attack had not happened in a quarter century, they were well-regarded as the best huntsmen in a generation.

Cossette had supposedly studied at Starswirl’s Magic Academy, though no pony could vouch for ever having seen her in a competition (or even a sparring match for that matter). It was to be the fight of an icon and a true wild card.

STAR sat in the midst of the crowd, chattering among the freshmen. Their classes were dismissed early, in the hopes that they’d observe the match between Cadence and Cossette.

Celestia tapped Trixie’s shoulder, signaling her permission to depart. Trixie hopped happily toward her teammates sat in the freshman section of the bleachers. Her first training session was complicated, confusing, and hard to follow, but Trixie’s spirits remained high… or rather, her spirits were high because the session was over. None-the-less, she seemed her usual chipper self.

“Hey, what is that pony doing with Celestia?” Rainbow Dash grumbled in a spout of jealousy.

“It’s not unlike Celestia to pick favorites.” Fluttershy whispered in response.

Rainbow crossed her front legs in defiance. “Sure, yeah. But we’re only a few weeks into the semester.”

Apple Jack shrugged, paying her jealousy no mind. “It is what it is, Rainbow.”

Pinkie Pie’s eye began to twitch as the pony hopped past her. An uncomfortable sensation filling her body, causing her to stir with a chill, until her body lifted stiffly out of her chair. With a thud, she came back to her seat. “No… Rainbow Dash is on to something…” she mumbled in her ever-high-pitched voice. “Somethings, not… right… and not in a fun surprising kind of way… in a fishy… no fun… kind of way.”

“So, how was training?” Starlight asked as her friend joined them. She patted the empty seat next to her, having saved one for Trixie when she’d return.

Trixie shrugged, “I didn’t really learn much, but it was my first day… of course. I’ve never faced a challenge I could not conquer.” She said triumphantly.

Starlight rolled her eyes. “All hail the great and powerful.” She said sarcastically.

Trixie elbowed her playfully, “shut up.”

Cadence tightened the bandages around her torso. Binding her wings to her side was the only option in maintaining her facade as a unicorn.

“Are you injured, Princess?” The demeaning voice came.

Cadence looked up, her eyes narrowed, nostrils flaring. Cossette had such a confrontational air about her. “You know not who you speak to.” Cadence said, raising to her hooves. Her boots clanked against the concrete floor of the locker room. “Mind your tongue.”

Cossette hopped over on a single one of her legs. “You know not who I am to become.” She snickered.

Cadence’s face twisted into a large, cocky, smirk. Knowing fair well this pony would never become the Winter Maiden, for the power was well hidden in the student mare. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re implying.” She giggled.

Cossette’s eyes fell, her arrogance faltering. The look on this pony’s face told her all was not as Starswirl had explained. Something was amiss. Perhaps this student knew of the Winter Maiden, but what business did Celestia have sharing such privileged information. “It’s of no pertinence to you, Princess.” She grumbled in agitation. “When I defeat you, you will know very well the source of my implication.”

“Your manner of speaking, it is so antiquated.” Cadence egged the other mare on.

“As is yours!” She retorted as though it were some kind of insult.

“I am, as you said, a princess.” Cadence began to giggle, as there was a certain irony to the insulting pet-name the other pony had chosen. For, she could never know how true her words were.

Cossette, as the challenger, was the first to enter the arena. Her light green coat shone lighter under the stadium lights. Her large personality shone through her small figure, gobbling up the polite claps she was offered by the students of the School for Gifted Unicorns. Her positively arrogant disposition left the audience with a poor taste in their mouths.

“Showboater.” Apple Jack snarked. “Why, I reckon that pony ain’t half the fighter she’s actin’ like she is.”

Cossette posed in a flamboyantly triumphant fashion. As if the clearly humored clamor of hooves clapping was a genuine applause.

Pinkie Pie’s tail twitched, her curly mess of hair creating a strange distorted swishing sound as she moved. “She’s- really something.” Pinkie insisted, trying to get herself under control. “Something baaaaad.”

Fluttershy patted Pinkie Pie gently on the back, believing this to be a gross over reaction. “It will be okay, Pinkie.” She said softly.

“Yeah!” Rainbow butted-in. “It will be alright when we watch this pretentious loser get pummeled by one of our very own.”

“That’s a big word for you.” Fluttershy said through an approving smile.

Rainbow crossed her arms, narrowing her brows. “What?! I pay attention in class.”

Cadence entered the ring, bandages on full display. She often wore a cloak, it was a convenient article for keeping up her unicorn facade. Though, the fact of the matter was, she had never been a unicorn in the first place. A horn proved much more difficult to hide, so she resorted to the easier of the two.

In seeing her condition, ponies through the audience gasped. “That mare is injured!” Rarity shouted in shock. “However can she be expected to fight in such a condition.”

Trixie hung her head knowingly. “Rarity, calm down, I’m sure she will be fine.” She insisted. “Those bandages are probably just for decoration or something.”

Her trio of teammates turned slowly, as it was evident that Trixie knew more than she was letting on. With her humongous ego and excitable personality, Trixie was a lot of things, but a good liar was not one of them. “I see.” Starlight said simply, settling into her seat. “I intend to know what you mean by that.”

“So do I.” Sunset chimed in, “but I assume now isn’t the best time.” She added, observing the large crowd of people who wouldn’t need to be privy of such information.

Trixie’s sheepish smile told them all she knew she’d been caught. “Let’s just watch the match, alright?”

Cadence moseyed on over to her opponent. She was so smug, but for what reason? Cadence couldn’t comprehend. For all this pony knew, she was up against one of the top students in the school, fighting for the potential of being considered for the power of the Winter Maiden. Though she did not know the power was long gone, impossible for her to obtain. This was merely a spectacle to keep Starswirl placated, to find out what his true plan was. No, this pony had no reason to be so boastful.

Cadence knew this, but Cossette couldn’t possibly. As the bell rang Cossette lunged forward, Cadence easily maneuvered to avoid a strike.

Cossette followed closely, soon enough making contact as Cadence’s swerving patterns became predictable. “What’s the matter, Princess? Afraid I’ll scratch that perfect little face of yours?” She coaxed. As she smiled, Cadence took note of the sharp teeth in her mouth. Strange fangs poking out where none had been before.

Cadence ducked as Cossette attempted to swipe at her face with her front hoof. “Nope!” Cadence retorted as she spun on her front legs, perfectly lining up a shot to buck with her hinds. As she connected, her opponents chin clamped shut, closing her fang-filled mouth for her. Cossette flew back into the rubber-like concrete-colored floor.

Rising to her feet, her eyes glowed with a ring of green that pulsated outwards from her pupils. This pony was unlike any Cadence had ever faced, with her strange attributes, Cadence began to wonder if she was even a pony at all.

Cadence took a stance in preparation for another charge. Bounding off the ground, her opponent returned to the fight. “Don’t count me out yet, Princess. Nothing will stand between me and my destiny!” She shouted the ever clique phrase as ponies in the audience started to grow uneasy.

Cadence grumbled as she slide-stepped away from Cossette, but she had failed to account for one minor detail... A dramatic tearing sound rippled through out the coliseum. Cadence looked to her side, as Cossette rose, horn covered in tattered bandages, as the remainder of her bindings fell in ribbons. “This is the pony your Princess has sent to fight me, to prove my worth!” Cossette shouted into the crowd. “An Alicorn among ponies is never a fair battle, would you all not agree?”

Cadence’s wings hugged her hips tightly, both her and everypony else wishing they were not there.

“That is enough.” Celestia shouted, using her best and most booming Canterlot voice. “You have fought unfairly, we provided a reasonable accommodation, and no magic blows had even been dealt.”

Cossette looked around, quite satisfied with the chaos she had caused. “So, you would have allowed this student to pummel me? Is that it?” She asked smugly.

“Hear me when I say this: you have lost the sparing match. All further discussions on your behalf will cease.”

Cossette’s eyes fell, the crowd then began to boo her. In what she’d believed would be a decisive move against Cadence, she had made herself even more dislikable. “very well.” She said, seemingly accepting defeat. She took her leave before any pony could say another word. In a blast of green lasers, she had gone.

“Did you learn anything from your fight?” Celestia demanded. Trixie and Cadence sat across the desk from her. Behind them were both of their teams: Rarity, Sunset, and Starlight. As well as: Shining Armor, Sunburst, and Twilight Sparkle.

Cadence nodded, uncloaked for the first time in years; For the first time since she’d been transformed and forced to move to Canterlot under a pseudonym. “She is not a pony.”

The crowd gasped. “Silence from the gallery, please.”

“My best guess… an educated guess, would be that she is… a changeling.”

The Show Must Go On

“Well, show us something you’ve learned” Sunset encouraged, eagerly waiting to see what Trixie had been down in that bunker learning to do for the past couple weeks.

Trixie hopped from left to right, feeling much more like herself in the moment, though still not completely her overly-cocky-self. “Well, with the whole ‘changeling’ thing going on, it’s really just been Cadence and I so…”

Sunset waved her off. “I’m sure whatever it is, you’re great at it.”

Starlight bit her tongue, knowing Trixie the best, she knew that was not always the case. Though, having learned a teensy bit of time-and-place behavior, she recognized now was not the best time to point out all of her best friend’s flaws. “Yeah.. just give us a little snippet!”

Rarity looked up from the project she’d been sewing in the corner of their dorm room. “Oh do please, Trixie, darling.” She placed her hooves in her lap as her magic pulled from the machine she used to sew. “I’ve put down my project, so you know, you must go on!”

Trixie hummed, taking a deep breath slowly in, and then out. Revving her horn, the trio leaned in with excitement. It was then that a single snowflake danced off the Winter Maiden’s horn. “That’s all I can do.” Trixie confessed.

“And that was-“

“Great! It was amazing actually!” Sunset shouted, interrupting any semi-unkind words from Starlight.

“I know, it sucks, I suck. That’s the whole reason they chose me to give the power to.” Trixie huffed, throwing her flank down on her bed. “No pony would ever expect a huge loser like me to be ‘The Winter Maiden’.” She sulked, falling to her back, letting her hind legs dangle off the edge of the bed.

“Oh no, doll, I’ve never seen any pony make a snowflake before. Usually it takes whole weather factories to make those and you’ve gone and made one all on your own!” Rarity said, using her magic to lift the red, cat-eye glasses from her muzzle. “That is a skill indeed.”

“Rarity’s right” Sunset insisted. “I just feel like you’re being too hard on yourself.” She huffed. “We can’t imagine how you must feel…”

Starlight chipperly jumped up with a sort of cartoonish pep. “You are going about it all wrong!” Rarity and Sunset turned, giving Starlight the stinkiest of eyes. “You are trying to learn to control your powers the way Cadence does, when you really need to use them the way Trixie would.”

“What, by pretending I know what I’m doing and throwing smoke bombs to cover up any stupid mistakes I make?”

Sunset tapped a hoof to the ground, “that’s not half bad, Starlight.” Trixie sat up, giving her a look of annoyance and disdain. “The Trixie we know would make the best of her situation… why don’t you try treating your lessons… like tricks?”

Rarity placed her glasses on her sewing table, “or rather, imagine oneself performing the marvelous tricks of a Winter Maiden to the grandest audience. Now, I know you are a truly professional a performer, and if I know anything about performers… they know: the show must go on!”

“Where’s your little blue friend?” Rainbow Dash asked as their sparring opponents approached. Today’s meet was held inside the gymnasium, and it seemed only three of their team of four had shown.

“You’re literally blue.” Sunset insisted, gesturing at the clearly blue pegasus hovering in the air.

Starlight chuckled at this “she won’t be joining us, PARTY ponies, you’ll just have to get your butts kicked by us.”

Fluttershy hummed, pittering away. “Oh, it really won’t be a fair fight. I will just sit this one out.” She seemed oh so sincere in her disappointment, save for the huge grin and her urgency to get off the gymnasium floor.

“Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash called. “Your talent is like… super awesome…” she mumbled as her partner got further away.

“What? Don’t think you can take us on your own?” Sunset asked.

Apple Jack stepped up, “Naw, think we’re pretty square. Your teams got two real opponents and a couple’a dead weights.”

Rarity swirled her magic about her as if it were a sword. “I beg to differ, Earth Pony.”

“Now what is that supposed to mean?” Pinkie Pie asked, hopping in, something had been noticeably different with her since the match between Cadence and Cossette. Something nopony could pin-point and something she refused to explain.

Rarity aimed her sword. “Think twice before referring to me as dead-weight.”

As the bell rang, Pinkie Pie bolted across the floor with a dash of light. Before Rarity could blink, she was standing close enough to touch. In an instant Pinkie Pie managed to fully pull a string of magic out of Rarity’s grasp. “Be NICE!” Pinkie Pie screamed as she twisted the ribbon of blue magic into a bizarre balloon animal. It was a dog, no a giraffe, an animatronic pony giraffe, no that’s just ridiculous! How she could handle unicorn magic with just her hooves was beyond anypony’s understanding.

Throwing the magical ribbon balloon (that simply made no physical sense, and based on all known laws of magic, should not have existed) to the ground resulted in a small explosion that blasted both Pinkie and Rarity clear across the gym.

Sunset teleported directly behind Apple Jack, who was swirling a lasso in the hopes of capturing her. “You’ll have to be faster than that, cow-pony.” She giggled at her far less offensive joke before teleporting away again. As the rope wrangled around her, she struggled against it, how could Apple Jack have known where she would go. “Hey!”

“Hey, lucky guess.” Apple Jack said as she began to pull the rope towards herself as if she were reeling in the catch of the day. “Hey!” She shouted back as she dropped the now flaming rope before it turned completely to ash. Reviewing her former captive, who was fully ignited. “Seems we’ve both got tricks up our sleeves.”

Starlight teleported effortlessly away from Rainbow Dash, her speed was impressive, but she lacked precision and thought. Starlight predicted her moves well before she made them, and could thus evade them with little to no action. “Rainbow Dash, I thought you were fast!” She said tauntingly.

“I AM FAST!” Rainbow cried as she bolted with her full power. An eruption of circular energy radiated behind her as she seemingly moved as fast as light itself. It was then, that Starlight was bested, surrounding herself in a force field so that she would not take the brunt of the hit.

Rainbow ricocheted from the orb of protection, but landed flawlessly on her hooves. She slid against the gymnasium floor. “That’s enough!” Their professor said, clapping her hooves at their displacement. “This is a draw if I’ve ever seen one.” Celestia said “great work, all of you.”

It was then that Trixie appeared, from behind Celestia. And unbeknownst to team PARTY, returned from her training. “Hey! Nice fighting you guys!” She said enthusiastically hoof-tapping her teammates. “You guys too!” She said cheerfully holding out her hoof for Rainbow Dash or Apple Jack to tap.

“Whatever, you didn’t even fight us, where were you anyway?” Rainbow snapped. She and Apple Jack turning to leave, obviously a bit jealous of the clear favoritism Celestia was displaying toward Trixie.

Pinkie Pie slowly crept up, gently tapping her hoof against Trixie’s “I’m on to you.” She whispered mysteriously through her gritted-teethed smile. Only Trixie had heard it, perhaps she had made it up.

“Well, anyways, looks like dinner time.” She said, awkwardly placing her hoof behind her head.

Earlier that day

“Keep your head up!” Cadence shouted, she slid across the ground on all four hooves, wings half bent before charging toward Trixie. Trixie flailed aimlessly, using her one trick. Snow bunched around as a flurry of flakes formed, but a single cloud of snow was no match for a charging opponent. Just before Cadence struck, she pulled all her force back. Stopping just short of Trixie, close enough for their muzzles to have bumped. “Huh.” She said, “usually that works.”

“Have you trained a maiden before?” Trixie asked, releasing the breath she’d hitched in during the charge.

Cadence flapped her wings, lifting her slender figure from the floor, creating distance between the two maidens. “Not exactly, it’s just…” she thought for a moment. “When some pony hides their talent, sometimes one might… scare it out of them.”

“I’m not sure your methods are… foolproof for everypony.” Trixie murmured. “I think we need to take a different approach…”

So, after a moment of set up, and a chair pulled out from one of the bunker offices, Cadence was instructed to sit.

Trixie cleared her throat, stepping out from behind the empty glass cylinders that once held the former Winter Maiden. “Behold!” She said dramatically, reciting her magician’s monologue. It felt like years since she’d been a street magician, but it had only been a few months at most. “Tis’ I, the Great and Powerful Trixie!” She announced. Cadence giggle to herself, which wavered Trixie’s confidence. “I- I’m sorry I’m just a bit rusty… and used to much larger audiences.”

Cadence waved her off with a single hoof. “Go on.”

Trixie cleared her throat, adjusting her footing as she focused all her energy toward her head and then her horn. “For my first trick, I will…” she thought for a moment, stalling. Drawing a perfect circle in front of herself she created a screen of glimmering light, and in jumping through her own cover, blasted her concentration upwards into the bunker ceiling. “Create a snow storm!” She announced as gusts of wind blew down hard from her creation.

The flurries turned to icy breezes as they picked up speed, the tornado of ice surrounding Trixie as she seemed to panic, but it was only momentarily.

Cadence was fully toppled by the blasts of wind, barely able to press toward Trixie, even with full use of her wings to propel her forward. “Trixie!” She shouted urgently. This was surely a grand show of power, but unfortunately the Alicorn wasn’t certain the unicorn had what it took to control it.

Trixie closed her eyes, lifting from her place on the floor, into the eye of the storm. Taking a deep breath, she made eye contact with Cadence, as she retracted the entirety of the weather back into her body.

Gently, she floated back to the ground, clearly winded and out of breath. She bowed, continuing her show, it was all an act a persona she’d created. “Hope you are all in stunned awe! Of the Great and Powerful Trixie!”

Cadence pressed her wings toward the winded unicorn. “That was amazing!” She shouted, rushing to her aid. “How did you do that? Moments ago you could hardly make a flurry of flakes.”

Trixie shrugged, body heaving as she tried to catch her breath. “I am a performer.” She answered simply. “I may not be confident or even particularly skilled, but ‘The Great and Powerful Trixie’ is.”

Chaos

Pinkie Pie paced the floor of the dorm, “Something is going on.” She insisted. “With team STAR.”

Rainbow fluttered up from her bed. “That’s what I’ve been saying!”

Apple Jack crossed her front legs over her chest, uninterested in the growing jealousy. “Look, ya’ll it’s not our business to get involved with Celestia’s crappy favoritism. Our business is ta’ get through school, graduate, and get our licenses.”

Fluttershy seemed to share that sentiment. “I say we let it go.” She said quietly.

Pinkie Pie hummed a tune of contemplation. “I just can’t shake this feeling.”

“And what is that feeling?” Apple Jack asked.

Pinkie Pie groaned teetering from her left hooves to her right. “Well, I told you… my talent, it was better to be kept secret.”

“I was meaning to ask you how you grabbed that pony’s magic with your bare hooves.” Rainbow interrupted.

Pinkie huffed. “It’s because my talent comes from… some place else.” Her mess of curls stood up straight on her head. “My born talent well, it’s just plain old intuition, but my real talent… is the power of chaos.”

The trio exchanged looks of disenchantment. “Yeah, whatever.” Apple Jack insisted. “If you don’t want to tell us that’s fine.”

Rainbow lowered herself to the floor again, thoroughly disappointed. “Yeah, don’t make up some nonsense about magic that nopony could even have.”

Fluttershy’s hooves made no sound as she approached. “I believe her.” She said standing silently next to Pinkie, causing her to jump. “They say some ponies can have more than one talent, if they train hard enough.”

“But pure chaos?” Rainbow scoffed. “Next you’re going to tell me that, well, the Chaos Monster is real.”

A silence fell over the room. The mere mention of Him was more like the mention of the devil or something purely evil. It was not polite to even make such a comparison. Pinkie Pie turned in her heels, and in a hop, she was out the door.

“Great job!” Apple Jack shouted as the door slammed behind her. “I didn’t believe her either, but to bring up… that thing… might as well have called her… well the worst thing anypony could call somepony else!”

“You know I didn’t mean that!” Rainbow argued defensively.

“And what did you mean?” Fluttershy asked, her voice so quiet and monotone.

“I just meant…”

Fluttershy flapped her wings until she was off her hooves. “I’m going to look for my friend, and when you two are ready to act like teammates, maybe we’ll come back.”

“Your progress is stunning, amazing, unbelievable.” Celestia, pacing the floor of the bunker.

Trixie stood, eyes glowing a blueish-purple out the sides. “They say ‘fake it til you make it’.” She started, her body lifting in the way that Cadence’s had upon the first revelation of the power. “And I think I’m starting to make it.”

Cadence nodded in the affirmative. “I think she’s ready.”

Celestia and her pupil shared a look, it was not a look of confidence from the professor. “I am not so sure.” She insisted, waving a hoof as her response was final.

“Ready for what?” Trixie asked, gently lowering herself in a sprinkle of snow flakes.

“It’s of no pertinence at this time. You are not ready.” Celestia commanded.

Cadence looked Trixie over, though their difference in age was not that great, she did still see Trixie as a child. “She is young, that is certain, but she is ready.”

Celestia spun to face Cadence. “Dare not defy me, Cadence.”

The purple flames burst from the side of the pink mare’s eyes, her wings widening in aggravation. “Speak to me not, like a child!”

Celestia turned and was gone in an instant. “Then I shall speak entirely not.” She muttered.

Starlight waited at the end of the stairs that led up to Celestia’s office, and subsequently to the training bunker. Pinkie Pie had watched her, in hopes of proving her supposed theories correct.

Fluttershy puttered quietly behind her, causing her to jump once again. “Stop sneaking up on me.” Pinkie Pie demanded, though she couldn’t help but laugh at her own jumpy-nature.

“What are you doing?” Fluttershy asked in her always soft-spoken manner.

“Watching, to prove that STAR is up to something, and… I don’t know; maybe then the others will believe me about something.”

Fluttershy peered around the corner, noticing Starlight patiently awaiting someone or something at the edge of the steps. “Well, I believe you.” As the pink-maned duo peered on, they took note of the Alicorn student escorting one, Trixie , down the steps. “What were they doing up there?” Fluttershy asked, now beginning to believe Pinkie Pie was on to something.

“That Trixie girl… she’s always running around with the Alicorns at this school.” She twisted her muzzle in a thoughtful way. “Though… from all I’ve heard about her, she’s no more deserving of her place at this school than… well… an Earth Pony. Her magic was far below average… and between you and me, everypony I’ve asked about her says they were shocked to find out she’d even been invited here.”

Fluttershy huffed out a breath “you’ve been investigating?”

“More or less, this is my first time really watching them.” Pinkie confessed. “But, I had a hunch and I had to follow it.”

Starlight and Trixie made their way, toward them, turning the corner, and walking past them. “Oh hey, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy.” Starlight said, waving as they passed.

“Hey!” Pinkie Pie replied happily changing her demeanor and cheerfully greeting them. Once the two had disappeared from sight, her smile fell and Pinkie Pie began to follow. “Let’s see where they go.” And to her surprise, Fluttershy offered no objection.

Starswirl paced his office, as school leaders were so often known to do. “He is not going to be happy about this.” Cossette insisted. Hanging her head on the back of the sofa, looking back at the inconsolable stallion.

“It is not too late, I just have to let Celestia cool down, then I can explain that it was not fair of her to pit you against an Alicorn without your knowledge.” Starswirl explained. “Your acting out was entirely justified and, in time, Celestia will come to see that.”

Cossette rose from her comfortable position on the couch. “Listen, buddy, we don’t have time. Celestia is going to pick one of her students to become the Winter Maiden, her even asking your opinion was a mere formality.” As she spoke she transformed before his eyes, a long, crooked horn jutting out from her forehead. Long, pointed wings extending from her spine. Her grey coat, disheveled from spending so much time disguised as a pony. “If it were up to me, we would have taken the Winter Maiden’s power by force! But, you made a mockery of us and by extension, made a mockery of Him. So tell me, how are you going to make it up to me?”

Starswirl scrambled backwards, he was old, far older than any pony… any creature was ever meant to be. Somehow, he was always offered a paranormal extension on his life. His immortality did not come from the wealth of Alicorn Magic, no, his was from gambling with those who possessed the power to keep him alive. It was never his intention to get involved with Him, but as the ponies with Chaos inside them began to die out… he had no choice else. “We can still reason with Celestia. She is not on to us… she would tell me who she’d given the power to. It is not too late!”

Eavesdropping

Fluttershy flattened her wings against the wall, trying her best to sink into the hallway wall. Pinkie Pie pressed on turned up ear to the locked door. Outside the STAR dorm, they weren’t the most masterful of spies, but with a little use of her power, Pinkie was semi-successful in her eavesdropping pursuit.

Rarity held up her design, a cloak. The purple fabric contrasted the blue and gold stars embroidered upon it. “For the Great and Powerful, a magician needs a proper outfit.” She swept the cloak through the air, gently placing it onto Trixie’s shoulders and tying the front around her neck.

“It’s beautiful, Rarity.” Trixie said, holding a hoof up the ribbon.

“And the pièce de résistance.” Rarity said, gently lifting a witch like hat from the table by hoof. “I pegged you a hat-wearer the day I met you, darling.” She giggled, placing the hat on her teammate’s head.

Starlight stood, a collapsible staff concealed in the cloak Rarity had fashioned for her. Sunset decked out in gauntlets around her ankles. “All of this is great, Rarity!” Sunset said, admiring the intricate metal work that must’ve taken weeks to complete.

Rarity was in a fitted body suit, more for the look than any improvement of her skills, but nonetheless, she looked great. “A huntress is nothing without their armor, so I’m told.”

“What are they talking about?” Fluttershy whispered, her teeth chattering as she grew nervous.

Pinkie Pie sighed “clothes-“ her head darted back toward the door “wait!” She yelped under her breath.

“So, we’re all dying to know about your training.” Starlight started.

Trixie beamed, and for the first time since she’d been forced into obtaining the Maiden power, it seemed sincere. “I really think I’m starting to get the hang of it, Cadence even thinks I’m ready for the next lesson…”

Starlight smiled widely, “that’s great, but-“

Trixie huffed, “but, Celestia says I’m not ready.”

Rarity shook her head. “If Cadence believes you to be ready, would she not be a better judge of preparation?”

“Yeah, she’s the Maiden, not Celestia…” Starlight barked. “I mean… no offense.”

Sunset shrugged. “I mean, seeing as Celestia’s a cool thousand years old, I’m pretty sure she’d have seen a couple rounds of Maidens in her lifetime.”

Trixie nodded her smile turning to a straight line. “I’m just glad I’m able to do anything with the Maiden power at all.” She muttered. “I think I surprised them…”

“Maiden power?” Pinkie Pie muttered. She shook her head, her of all ponies knew it was possible given the chaos that dwelled within her. “No pony will believe it.” She said.

Fluttershy stared at her, her teammate clearly battling with the information she obtained. “Maiden power? What like the seasonal maidens?”

Pinkie looked up at her with frantic eyes. “It seems so.”

“That blue pony?” Fluttershy asked, seeking clarification.

“Sounds that way.”

“Starswirl.” Celestia said in a disappointed tone. “You dare offer the maiden potential a pony with such poor fighting etiquette and manners?”

Starswirl sat comfortably, having collected himself and decided his best course of action. “And you, Celestia? Appointing an Alicorn student to battle an average unicorn?”

“My students are trained the same regardless of their origin.” Celestia stated firmly, holding her hoofs to the top of her desk. “And it is my sneaking suspicion that your student is in fact not a pony at all.”

This accusation stirred Starswirl, that much was clear. His comfortable seated position turned to that of fidgeting discomfort. “Such an assumption has no grounds.”

“Provide her school records and I will consider it water under the bridge.”

Starswirl’s hooves found themselves atop the desk as well as the ancient ponies stared one another in the eyes. “Was your summons an excuse to bring me here and insult me? You rule this nation and run this school, what more control do you need, Celestia?” Starswirl pushed his body from the chair in a fit of rage. “Now you aim to control two of the maiden’s. I know full well the Spring Maiden is in your arsenal, now you will have the Winter Maiden as well. You called me here initially with the plan of, what? Including me as a formality? To prove to the public that you are not a dictator?”

Celestia rose, wings stretched in an effort of intimidation. “Hold your tongue, old friend.” She commanded. “Such a long reign, the greatest philosopher there has ever been, it would be a shame for that all to end at the hooves of your former pupil.”

Starswirl whirled his horn, a bulb of magic forming at the end. “Do not threaten me!” He retorted.

Celestia towered over him. “Tell me your involvement with Him, or suffer the consequences.”

“Him?” Starswirl stammered, stumbling backwards at the mere mention. “What know you of Him?”

“You would be surprised.” The third pony said, in the flesh stood the dark blue pony with the dust of stars swirling through her mane. “It is my great honor to place you under arrest.” Luna said coldly.

Starswirl turned toward the door as Cadence bursting through with Shining Armor and Sunburst on her tail. “Nowhere to run.” Shining Armor spit.

Starswirl surrendered.

Cassette paced the steps, a strange pony having been assigned to keep an eye on her. The mare was cloaked, as many of Celestia’s ‘best’ were. “This meeting is quite long…” Cossette said finally.

The pony turned her nose up at her. “You know old ponies, they love to chatter.”

Cossette looked around the floor they’d been forced to wait on. It was a bustling hallway a floor below Celestia’s office. “Yeah, I guess they do.” She replied. As shouting and thumping came from above them, the room seemed to freeze. Every pony looking up at the ceiling, but no pony was permitted up to the next floor. Cossette’s eyes glew that strange green color as she realized the trap Celestia has sprung, Starswirl was captured, she could feel it in her antennae… though they weren’t exactly accessible in this disguise.

Her guide rose from the step she’d been seated on. “I recommend you leave now.” She said, as she sighed, obviously not looking for a fight.

She looked around, all of these ponies around would make it difficult for her to make a b-line for the steps, and even if she did manage to get past all of the students, it sounded like actual officers were upstairs. No, Cossette knew when she was beat. It was time for her to take her leave.

“I knew it!” Rainbow Dash insisted. “Wait, what’s a maiden?”

Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy shared a glance and the roll of their eyes. “You’ve never heard the fable about the maidens?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Years ago, no, don’t ask me how many… because I don’t know! Gosh!

So: Years ago, there was an old warlock who lived alone on a hill. Well, alone until a small white mare happened upon his cottage. It was warm, as the sun shone directly overhead. He asked the mare if she needed help. She said: ‘I am looking for a place to stay while I wait for my family.’

So, the warlock thought for a long time, he wasn’t much for patronage, but this mare was in need. So, in exchange for maintaining his garden, he allowed her to stay.

As seasons changed, the leaves began to fall, another mare appeared in search of her cousin. And, in exchange for cooking a single, hearty, meal daily, the warlock offered her shelter.

As they went on this way, the third appeared. And the warlock said: ‘this must be your whole family’, but they still waited. So, in exchange for fending off the cold with her magic, he offered them shelter.

It was only a short period of time that the final pony arrived, another cousin, hearts patterned into her coat, and she brought the warlock gifts of food and drink, seeds for his next harvest, and a lamp that burned with an unstoppable flame to warm him in the cold.

And as they went, the warlock realized how lonely his home had become. In return, he gave each of the mares a gift, a fraction of his power, though… since he was as old as time itself, the power was that of ten mares.”

“So… you mean to tell me that Trixie is like… really old?” Rainbow Dash asked, as if that were her only take away from the fable.

Apple Jack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy exchanged glances in an uncomfortable moment of silence. “No…” Fluttershy whispered, finally breaking the awkwardness. “I think the power has to be passed from pony to pony in some way.” She added.

“But how?” Apple Jack asked, “it don’t make no sense.”

“There are a lot of things that don’t make sense.” Pinkie Pie replied. “But, that’s what I heard. And that would explain Celestia’s immediate draw to Trixie and her team.”

The grey-coated creature attempted to seep into the ceiling. Crawling across the ceiling like a spider in the dimmed lights. Sure, it was possible to get the information directly from the source, but far more practical to let the inquisitive Pink pony do all the work for her.

Her ears twisted like hinges, searching for the voices of the ponies in the dorm. The tale was boring, but better was the information received.

“They’ve already chosen the Winter Maiden.” She mumbled, “all this time… I’ve been strung along.” Her rage hit a boiling point. “This isn’t fair!” She screamed.

Doors along the hallway flew open, all ponies on the floor searching for the source of such anguish, but she was a changeling. Her nature was to disguise, so, she made herself blend in to her surroundings.

As the ponies reluctantly returned to the comfort of their rooms, Cossette lowered herself with her flat, round-tipped wings. “It is now that I obtain the power I was promised.” She stamped her foot to the ground. “I shall take what is rightfully mine, hopefully this new Maiden knows how to put up a fight.”

“Oh Starswirl.” The voice said, it was cooky and uncomfortable, to hear His voice… especially here. Below the school, in a cell, awaiting transport to the heavily guarded Canterlot prison, where he would eventually be tried, and inevitably sent to Tartarus for his involvement with Him. “Have you grown tired of taking all the credit for my power?”

Starswirl closed his eyes, lying flat on the small rectangle they attempted to pass off as a bed. “You are not really here.” He mumbled. “You dare not show your measly mug so near to the princesses.”

“You forget that I’ve already slayed a princess, a pony of my own claw, a pony I’d once held dear.” He said. “You, I have no such inclinations toward.”

“Amore fell in battle.” Starswirl insisted.

“Say what you will, but all know it was I.” He replied. “So, you speak so unkindly to the true warlock as old as time?” His voice was sinister, but also, silly. “You must forget the life I’ve given to you.”

The Forbidden Spell

Luna marched down the steps of the holding facility, despite being a school, the building was fortified like a castle. “Are you ready to answer our questions, or would you rather us take our evidence to trial?” Luna asked, taking the corner toward the cell. As she stopped she took stock of the cells occupants. To her surprise, it was empty. “Red alert, our suspect has escaped his imprisonment!” Luna shouted, darting up the stairs followed by the cloaked student.

“How? We capped his horn, it was impossible for him to use magic!” The student cried.

Luna shook her head, “he must have had some help, but who? No pony could sneak past our guards.”

The pony pulled her hood back, revealing the straight bangs, Twilight Sparkle stood with her hooves dug into the impenetrable floor. A sense of injustice filling her with rage. “This cannot be happening!”

Cossette… or… whatever her real name was, raised her wings, fluttering as she brought her clan about the edge of Canterlot. “Now, my friends,” she said, buttering-up the lower level changelings as she spoke. “Help your queen obtain the power she was destined to have!”

“All hail, Queen Chrysalis!” The hoard of bug-like… pony-esque, creatures chanted.

“It is with great sorrow and disappointment that we bring this news to you.” Celestia said, stood upon the steps of the castle. Ponies gathered, press pegasi hovering, notepads in hoof. Cameras flickering from all around the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd. “Starswirl the Bearded has been taken into custody, but he has escaped from the informal holding facility below the Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns.” The crowds gasped and shouted, confused, and fearful. For one of their most highly regarded warlocks to be taken into custody, he must have done something particularly heinous. “During our ongoing investigation, it is expected that Equestria’s citizen’s be kept in-the-know. If any pony sees or hears of Starswirl please report to your local authorities.”

“The students… who will teach them now?” A reporter shouted.

And to that Luna, the ambassador, took her steps to meet her sister. “In the wake of such a polarizing event, the learning ambassador is prepared to step-in as headmaster until a permanent stand-in is appointed.”

Sunset rolled across the ground, back, then returning to her hooves. Starlight bulked her staff to the ground, instantaneously capturing Sunset’s blast between the two bars at the end of the staff. Rarity hopped gently across small platforms she created using her magic.

As Starlight redirected Sunset’s magic up toward Rarity, the designer stepped off the platform. Avoiding the shot, and falling to the floor, catching herself on a floating disc she’d conjured, before hitting the rubber mat.

“Seems like a team of three, more than four.” Rainbow Dash said coldly, standing at the entrance of the training room they occupied.

The remaining members of STAR turned to face the rainbow-maned pony. “What do you want, we’re a little busy.” Sunset said, gesturing to their obviously-ongoing practice.

Taking the corner, was the full force of team PARTY. “The jig is up ponies, and you know I love a good jig.” Pinkie Pie said. “We already know about Trixie, so now it’s just a matter of why and how.”

“I’m sure we don’t know what you mean, darlings” Rarity interjected. “Though, If you’d care for another spar we have no objections.”

Apple Jack rolled her eyes. “Cut it out, we’re trying to be discreet, unlike your teammate.”

“It wasn’t exactly hard to figure it out.” Rainbow Dash gloated, earning herself a heated glance of annoyance from Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy.

STAR exchanged glances, it was clear they knew something, even if that something seemed impossible. “So, are you going to tell us what you’re accusing us of, or just stand there… in an attempt at being menacing.” Starlight asked, fully proud of her word choices.

“You want us to say it out loud? Here? So every pony can hear?” Rainbow asked.

“No.” Pinkie Pie interrupted “that would not be fun, we don’t want word getting out like that.”

“Especially with Starswirl on the loose, we don’t even know what role he’s played in all of this.” Fluttershy whispered.

“What did you say?” Sunset asked. “Quiet girl, did you say something about Starswirl?”

“They know.” Starlight relented. “They’re gonna kill us. Celestia is gonna lock us away and swallow the key.”

“Will you relax?” Sunset grumbled. “They wouldn’t come to us if they wanted to snitch… right?”

STAR turned to PARTY and they were finally at an understanding. “Why, might I ask, do you four even feel the need for involvement?” Rarity asked.

“Cause, we got a duty to help ponies.” Apple Jack insisted. “When Pinkie Pie sensed trouble we were on it like a bat ta’ an orchard.”

“Plus, we’re obviously the better team, so if you need back up, it oughta be us.” Rainbow boasted, nodded with her eyes closed. It was then that every pony gave her a look of displeasure. Opening her eyes, she took note of the six disapproving mugs. “What?”

“I’m going to teach you something, but you have to give me your full attention as it’s very dangerous.” Cadence said, it was almost a whisper, but more a quiet statement that felt secretive.

“But what about Celestia?” Trixie asked. Their mentor and professor was out at the press conference, she would not interfere with their training today.

“Celestia is too cautious, or rather, not cautious enough.” Cadence insisted. “There is something amiss, and that Cossette pony is out, galavanting, but the only ponies who seem to care about that are my team and I. Celestia is dead set on capturing Starswirl while his accomplice plans to steal the Winter Maiden’s power.”

Trixie shuttered, shaking with nervousness and the chill of her power. “At least… at least it’s hidden with me… right?”

“That will buy us some time, but it’s only a matter of time before somepony finds us out.” Cadence stamped her hoof. “That is why you must learn this trick, even if Celestia worries that you aren’t ready, you must learn it now.”

“Well… I suppose I’m ready then.”

The changelings took the forms of the most unassuming ponies, but no matter how unnoticed they were in the city of Canterlot, the school was heavily guarded.

Ponies could not just happen onto the school grounds. Chrysalis was well-aware, and seeing as her guide had already been found out. It was not likely that she or her minions would be allowed within the school’s walls posing as Starswirl’s students.

No, she would need another way in. A wise queen, such as herself, was no stranger to a formal and flawless ambush.

“So, now you know.” Sunset said finally. Starlight pacing the floor as her teammate explained “it is our duty to protect her and well, it’s her duty to protect Equestria I suppose.”

Pinkie Pie jolted with a bolt of electricity, “no this was supposed to be it!” She shouted in dismay. Her feelings of uneasiness had reared their ugly heads once again. “I’ve found the problem, what else could there be?”

“Another pony… that Cossette girl, the one who fought with that Senior Alicorn pony.” Starlight began. “She wants the power, that was the entire reason she was supposed to spar against Cadence. But, it was just a waste of time, to feel her out… to see how she fights, and to placate her ‘professor’.”

Pinkie Pie shuttered. “Not. Fun.”

Cadence dug her heels in, aiming her horn at the aluminum can they’d set up for target practice. “Have you ever heard of… well…” she cleared her throat, nervously as she asked. “Him?”

Trixie watched her, the small ball of magic at the tip of her horn growing slowly. It clearly took a lot of effort to conjure this spell. “I- well, I guess I have.”

“And how He was once encased in stone?” Cadence continued.

“Yes, but He escaped…” Trixie replied.

“That much is true.” She said, releasing the pulse of magic, it swirled with multicolored strips and struck the can with expert precision. As Trixie stared on, she watched the can slowly crack under the pressure of the now growing stone prison. “And I believe you must know how to place one in such an encasement.”

Trixie swallowed her nerves. “Isnt that… immoral?”

“I don’t know much about your moral compass, but I do know that if it comes down to turning an enemy to stone, and the lives of innocent ponies. That creature will make a fine statue.” Trixie nodded, seeming to come to terms with the idea. “You must be careful, though. For any creature captured in stone will be just that… captured. You will not be able to communicate with them or any power they may have until they inevitably escape… or if they are freed.”

The Precursor

Chrysalis’s crew assumed identities of students. Though, it took them quite some time to find enough students to copy the mugs of, posing as Celestia’s pupils they would likely not be turned away by the guards. This, was, of course only ‘Plan A’. For she was still not opposed to taking the school and the Winter Maiden’s power by force. Though, it was incredibly unfortunate that Celestia has opted to put one of her own students in the line of fire.

If Chrysalis had a set of morals, surely the death of an old mare, well on her way to the Ever After any day, was less cruel than ripping away the life of a pony who’d only just reached maturity.

The key word, however, being ‘if’. For Chrysalis was not at all opposed to the latter option either.

Her disciples would either be allowed in disguised as students, or break in with threats, and subsequent follow-through of violence. The choice would be made entirely by Celestia’s guard.

Trixie stood at the entrance to the room, counting four more bodies than usually occupied it. “Hey… I’m back!” She said awkwardly. Her shoulders seemed heavy and the smile she’d worn seemed to be plastered onto her face.

“They know.” Starlight started. “They know everything.”

Trixie’s shoulder’s dropped, as did the corners of her mouth. Using her hind leg, she slammed the door shut. “What?!” She snapped. “You told them?” She said in an accusatory tone.

Sunset rose, not appreciative of her aggression. “Look, we know you’re going through a lot right now-“

“No!” Trixie snapped. “You don’t know what I’m going through!”

Apple Jack stepped between Trixie and Sunset. “Look they ain’t told us nothing. We sort of… put two and two together.”

Trixie’s eyes filled with fire, both figuratively and literally. “That’s impossible!” She growled. “I trusted you to keep this secret, Celestia trusted you!” The turmoil and stress reeled inside of her, creating a flurry of snow and emotion around her. The unnatural wind pushed the furniture toward the center of the room, away from a rampaging Maiden. The swirl of snow and magic created a strange spectacle, but also a terrible indoor environment… In an instant, Starlight wrapped everypony within a small force field, shielding them from the cold, but there was only so much she could do, Trixie’s newfound powers were too strong. Sunset blasted-in creating a strange melding of color swirling around STAR and PARTY. Still, Trixie’s emotional storm hailed down on them. “Starlight! I thought you were my friend!”

“They just want to help!” Starlight shouted back.

Trixie looked on, the seven ponies crammed into the two single beds and crowded together inside the bubble of presumed safety. She watched as her teammates looked at her with shock and terror. How they tried with all their might to protect themselves and everypony else… from her. She realized how they were clearly cut-out to be huntresses from the get-go… unlike her.

And that was what Trixie had wanted to be. A protector, not this. Not to torment her friends… not a Maiden. The tears stung her face, as they crystallized from the cold. Her frozen tears began sticking to her cheeks. She slowly lowered her body to the floor, collapsing under the pressure, both literal and figurative.

The idea was: Trixie was a joke, some pony no one would ever in a million years have an inkling about… nothing special… a pawn. Celestia the Queen… her seniors the knights… Trixie a pawn and her friends? Well, some other chess analogy surely fit them… Rooks… Bishops? They were special enough to not be special. And Trixie wasn’t sure what was worse.

Celestia sat up in her office, Luna at her side. Luna had never been opposed to running a school, necessarily, though the defining factor of her never having had one of her own was that she preferred not to stay in one place for too long. Traveling kept her on her toes, she could see what Celestia could not… if only she were able to see this coming. “Starswirl is public enemy number one.” Celestia insisted. Though they had once been students of the stallion, his jealousy soon led him against them.

It was slow, at first. Bickering was first, then constant discomfort with their stature as Alicorns. The fact that he had seemed to age, while they only gained wisdom. It drove him to grow disconnected from them. Once his pupils, now outranking him. For ages he had relied on magic to sustain his age, getting more powerful magic from here or there. It became evident that will all the take, and very little give. The creatures of this world had grown tired of feeding his need for everlasting life.

All but one… a newly freed creature. One so vile, he’d not been seen in thousands of moons. One, nopony dared utter the name of. “We forget about his minion. The changeling?” The silent third Alicorn spoke.

“We need not worry ourselves with her now… you have overpowered her on your own, she poses no immediate threat.”

Cadence rolled her eyes, Celestia was a confident and competent fighter. Always believing herself capable of beating any creature. Cadence, though able to overpower one changeling, had no such confidence.

As a number of Chrysalis’s lackeys made it into the school and past the guards, heads had begun to turn. With the influx of students… it soon became evident that some ‘ponies’ may not be who they claimed.

The yellow Pegasus and white unicorn stallion rolled the metal gate shut. “The School for Gifted Unicorns is on full lock down effective immediately. No pony will be allowed in or out.”

This was expected, in fact, it was perfect for Chrysalis. While the ponies worried and whined, her changelings needn’t do much at all.

The remaining changelings toddled away, back to their queen. “Worry not, my bugs.” She said with a softly sinister smile. “Our victory is not thwarted yet.”

“I’m sorry…” Trixie whimpered. “Please- forgive me.”

The shaking group of mares was in terrified awe of her display. “Trixie-“ Starlight started. Her hoof shaking as she seemed to reach out to her old friend. The pony she’d come to this school with and for. “We just want to help.”

Trixie weakly looked up. “I know… it’s just so… hard.”

The cold settled, and despite their coats and blankets the girls all shivered. “You don’t have to do this alone.” Apple Jack interjected. “We wants’ta help.”

“You guys are too kind.” Trixie mumbled. Her pride was still there… even if it was teetering. “This is my burden to bear.”

“Knock it off!” Starlight shouted, her eyes welling with tears. All her life she’d known a confident and headstrong Trixie. In the past weeks, she’d become some pony she couldn’t recognize and she could no longer sit idly by. “It’s our job to help you, but more than that.”

“We want to help you!” Sunset shouted over her. “They want to help you, so just talk to us and let’s work out a plan.”

“If some creature is after your power… and Starswirl is on the loose, we’re going to need every pony we can get on our side.” Rainbow Dash reminded.

Trixie looked them over, flakes of snow glimmering in her similarly-colored mane. “Alright.”

“Alright?” Pinkie Pie asked, twitching her tail as she sensed a feeling of slight relief.

“Alright, we can’t just give in.” Trixie repeated.

“That’s my girl!” Starlight replied enthusiastically.

The Invasion

Sunset stood still, her magic was impressive, but what had really impressed Celestia was her fire. The ability to cast herself into flames and retain no injuries. That was what she had wanted her for several years prior; and still what she’d wanted her for now.

Starlight was a skilled magician. Able to cast spells only the most advanced unicorns could manage, and from an early age. She reminded her Professor a lot of her existing pupils. One Cadence, Twilight Sparkle, or even Sunset Shimmer. It was no wonder to any pony that Starlight would be chosen.

Rarity came from humble beginnings. Though, her skilled designing reputation preceded her. Where she lacked in power she made up for in creativity. Her armor designs were fashionable and functional. Protecting their wearers from barrages of damage.

Pinkie Pie had lived on a rock farm for much of her life. Though, by pure happenstance, she was struck by the bug of chaos. With a strange sense about her, and her jittery quick-witted nature, it was almost as if she knew something about the universe no pony else did.

Rainbow Dash was the most skilled flier in Cloudsdale. This much, has been said before, but her true talent was bending the light in what was dubbed a “Sonic-rainboom”. Her speed was impressive, of course, but her true feats come from the blast of energy that only she could create.

Fluttershy would have never come to the school had it not been for Rainbow Dash. This was never her dream, but Celestia had insisted that they would come as a pair. For, Fluttershy had a skill, a very uncommon one at that. It was referred to only as “the stare”. This talent gave her the ability to stop any creature in their tracks. Albeit only for a short time.

Apple Jack was as clear as they came. From a strong family background, her power came from her undeniable physical strength. She was as strong as she was smart, and never shied away from a fight… even one she couldn’t win.

“I used to be… different.” Trixie lamented, in the gymnasium for the first time in what felt like forever. “I feel like since I’ve taken this power, it’s overcome me. I don’t feel like myself anymore.”

Rarity patted her teammate gently on the back in an attempt at comforting her. “Oh darling, when was the last time you’d truly felt as yourself?”

Trixie’s mind reeled. She thought back to days when she’d only just received the power of the Winter Maiden. Recalling how her friends had suggested she treat the training as one of her magic shows. “I guess… when I was trying to pretend the Maiden powers were… tricks?”

Starlight tapped her hoof. “So then, that’s what we’ll do.” She replied. “We’ll treat this training like a rehearsal, and when the time comes to actually fight… we’ll put on a show.”

“No offense, but… I’m not sure playing around is the best way to handle… oh- I don’t know, a power-hungry presumed-changeling, on the prowl and ready to attack.” Rainbow interjected. Everyone sighed at her clear lack and recognition of social cues. “What? I’m just saying.”

“Well the both of ya are right.” Apple Jack chimed in. “Starlight there’s right about us all need’n to make Trixie real comfortable, but Rainbow here’s right about the real serious nature of it all”

Sunset held up her hoof to stop them. “We aren’t questioning whether or not this is serious.” She swallowed, team leader, yet she hadn’t felt like a leader in ages. “Let’s try it Trixie’s way… and we can work around our qualms when we get to them.”

“But-“ Rainbow blurted, immediately met with Apple Jack’s hoof covering her blabbering mouth.

News of the lockdown caused a quiet sense of panic through the school grounds. Shining Armor was a student, yes, but also the incumbent for the position of Captain of the Royal Guard. So, as both a student, and future Captain; it was his duty to know when a lockdown was necessary.

“To your dorms, all students are to stay in their dorms until further notice. Any pony found to be off campus will be issued a citation. Any pony not permitted to be on campus, will be placed under arrest.”

Students and Changelings alike fled into the building. The changeling army was smart, easily blending in with the chaotic crowd. Though, unlike the ponies they’d assumed the identities of, they did not have a dorm to return to.

Some were lucky, lucky enough that a friend would ‘recognize’. Lucky enough to have taken the role of somepony who was off campus for the day.

Others were not so lucky. It became evident that some ponies were duplicates… unusual… unheard of.

“Changeling!” The word rang out, through the echoing halls until it was certain that every pony within the school had heard it.

If there were one changeling… there were undoubtedly already more hiding in plain sight. More, even more, waiting to be let in.

“A changeling? Inside my school?” Celestia asked. It was almost a convincing fit of disbelief. Though, how this could’ve taken her by surprise was unfathomable.

“I hate to say it.” Cadence mumbled coldly. Earning glared daggers from the sisters. “Well, I hate to say! You two have sat idly by while Starswirl brought that creature here… several times… not seeing her as a threat, though I and everypony else could see this exact scenario playing out… weeks ago.” Her voice was more stern now, unafraid of their disapproval. “And your ancient feud with Starswirl clouded your judgement. You two want so badly to prove you’re better than him? Why?” Her breath hitched “At what cost! At ignoring a blatantly obvious threat to the school to focus on some old warlock who could keel over at any moment?”

Celestia’s eyes narrowed. “He is a larger threat than you know. His thirst for power is unquenchable. So I apologize if we did not handle everything to your liking, but if you knew even a fraction of his capabilities… you would have done the same.”

“No. I don’t think I would.” Cadence said coldly as she bolted away- Presumably to find her team, because unlike the princesses, she was not going to take this injustice lying down.

A lone changeling stood in the hall, surrounded by the hunters in training… what a pathetic sight. Though, it was not as simple as it may have appeared.

In the court yard, the swarm had begun. Enough of the bug-like creatures to replicate near-to-all of Celestia’s students buzzed their tiny wings. Over the wall, and forcibly through the royal guard and the backup guard made up of students.

The sunlit sky became dark, as the strange creatures cast their collective shadow over the school’s courtyard. He had asked Chrysalis and Starswirl to take the power of the Winter Maiden, of all the maidens, actually… and Chrysalis had tried her hand at a diplomatic solution…

Though, invasion was much more her style.

The incessant droning of the bugs filled the air, louder than the sound of sirens.

Trixie hopped from side to side, her get-up was sort of extravagant. Rarity had created it, she’d worn it before, it should’ve have felt as uncomfortable as it did.

“You are the last line of defense, do you hear me?” Starlight said sternly. “Please, just listen to me this time… okay?” She said, they pressed their foreheads together, staring gently into each other’s eyes. They knew each other well, and no matter how changed Trixie had felt, she couldn’t help but feel herself in that moment.

“No promises.” Trixie said, the old familiar smile creeping across her face.

“Hey, let’s get moving.” Sunset said awkwardly. “Stay here with Rarity, got it?”

Rarity trotted up to Trixie. She was not discouraged by her lack of fighting skill, she was proud to stand by Trixie in this fight.

The students did not stand around wasting time. After all, this was a school that taught fighting and defense.

But, many were ill equipped to fight this battle. With no preparation and varying levels of skill they were able to fend off only a portion of the invaders.

STAR and PARTY had divided their forces into teams of two. Trixie and Rarity, who had gone down toward the bunker. Fluttershy and Starlight, because well, someone needed to look out for Fluttershy. Sunset and Pinkie Pie, because they both seemed to have a genuine sense of intuition. And Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack, these two provided no reason for wanting to be together, other than simply just wanting to.

Rainbow and AJ were up first:

In an instant, the courtyard was silenced save for the sound of a zipping Pegasus, faster than even the fastest of creatures. Rainbow blasted through the cloud of changelings. Her speed and strength plowed through them, and just as fast as she’d hit them, she’d came back.

With her, the billowing light of her Sonic Rainboom. A blast so mighty it sent the on-winged changelings barreling to the ground. It was a fine distraction, a fine first-step.

“You there! Get back inside!” Flash Sentry shouted. Ever the protector, but also ever unnecessary.

Rainbow landed with her hooves skidding to a stop. “Why don’t you let a real Pegasus do the work, pretty boy.” She said rather sarcastically, stretching her wings to show their size.

Flash narrowed his eyes at the insult, in the end it was his job to protect as many ponies as he could… not necessarily to fight. So he turned back, rushing other ponies out of the courtyard.

Despite the rainboom creating some distance, the changeling army was unrelenting.

Try as she might, Apple Jack could only lasso or buck so many heads before the swarm simply pushed past her. Even with the other students and the school guard, there were just too many of them.

“Yes! Yes! They cannot stop us all, oh He will be so proud!” Chrysalis cackled, now dawning a new disguise. “The power of numbers and brute force! Skill and stature is for the meek ponies of Equestria.”

Starswirl sat with the crystal rocks caked around the tip of his horn. No matter what spell he thought to conjure, none was powerful enough. “You bring me here, but not to help me from this wretched curse.”

He laughed, his twisted disfigured body crawled but also slithered. He moved in a ‘S’ shape as He finally faced the old man. “You are so unkind, it is no wonder Celestia and Luna hold so much contempt for you.” He laughed a crooked little giggle.

“Well, they aren’t particularly fond of you either.” Starswirl rebutted.

“Oh but they once were.” He insisted, the fangs of his smile poking out over the bottom of his lip. “You know how easy it is to fall from grace, don’t you.”

Starswirl tapped his foot, it seemed he’d never really noticed. If ponies had ever disliked him, they’d never seemed to say. Though, would they have had the gall to say they hated someone supposedly so beloved? Even Celestia or Luna? “I suppose.”

“So, then let us watch your friends fail.” He laughed. “And then, perhaps I will give you a chance to redeem yourself.”

“My friend?” Starswirl wracked his brain trying to conjure the image of someone he considered a friend.

“The Changeling, or the Princesses… anyone, take your pick, they will all fail. That, my friend, is a promise.”

Phase Two

Cadence flew through the hall, over the heads of the earth ponies and unicorns, narrowly diving through the on-wing pegasi.

As she passed Sunburst, standing at his post, patiently awaiting direction from Celestia; his eyes turned up as his teammate burst through in a surprising lash of urgency. Sunburst took off in her direction, following her, teleporting himself in bursts of orange light trying to keep up with the pace. “What’s your direction?” He asked seriously.

Cadence looked down, tucking her wings and spinning to her hooves. She and Sunburst now both moving on hoof. “I’m not standing around while Celestia does nothing.” She insisted.

Sunburst rolled his eyes, recalling Celestia’s infamous inaction. She often waited until a threat was in their doorstep before acting, when other leaders would like be more proactive. “So… no direction.”

Cadence rolled her eyes at the rule-stickler. “I’m giving myself direction, so are you coming or not?”

Sunburst didn’t hesitate, though the twist of his face said he’d wanted to. “Alright, I’m coming.”

Shining Armor and the royal guard continued ushering people inside the building, but as the changeling crowd pushed past their forces and followed the ponies inside, it seemed to be increasingly difficult.

Flash pounded his wings against the sky, providing direction to those ponies who were willing to take it. “It’s safer inside.” He said, and that is what they believed.

Chrysalis moved as one with her army. Through the crowd, and at any point of contention, a battalion would narrow in. Containing the threat, allowing the invasion to proceed forward.

Next up on the chopping block was the combination of Sunset and Pinkie Pie. With a circular motion of her head, Sunset drew a force field of red and mint power as her semblance mixed with her magic.

Pinkie Pie grew more and more antsy. The fur on the back of her body rising with the growing commotion. Bouncing from wall-to-wall, like a poorly drawn cartoon who’d just had their first taste of coffee.

Sunset looked her over, rolling her eyes, but cracking a smile. They were supposedly their respective team leaders, but Pinkie Pie was so erratic, she couldn’t imagine her in a leadership role whatsoever. “Hey, you good?”

Pinkie Pie smiled, through the constant motion and twitching. “Oh… so good-“ she giggled as the changelings began to bash against Sunset’s pane of magical energy. With each thud, Pinkie Pie seemed to go more and more animated, more eager, more prepared.

As the sparkling screen turned to dust, an energetic Pinkie Pie burst beyond enemy lines. Hopping cleanly on the heads of changeling drones, injuring or slightly inconveniencing them. When she finally decided to stop causing a minor annoyance, she turned and faced the creatures she’d hindered. Watching as they fell to ribbons of colorful paper. From sentient beings, to inanimate confetti with a sad little horn sound effect.

Sunset watched in sheer horror. Though, Pinkie Pie could only reach so many of them. She seemed rather proud.

Sunset swallowed her morals, blasting the creatures with her flame and extinguishing them before they were able to catch the building on fire. Charring them, but not actually ending their lives.

And despite their collective efforts, once again, they two could only do so much.

Cadence and Sunburst forced their way through the crowd, stamping on bizarre and misplaced confetti and scorched carpet. Through the changelings, the Spring Maiden blasting the pawns to nothing.

Once they made it out to the courtyard, it was increasingly obvious what they were up against. What was believed to be a manageable swarm, one that would potentially rival the number of guards and students, was soon noted as a complete invasion.

Not only were there enough changelings to match the school’s forces, but there were enough changelings there to rival the population of the entire city.

“Shining Armor!” She said, screeching to a hault. The stallion turned, and the stern face turned to mush at the sight of her. Her panic fazed him… she was the strongest pony he knew. Both physically and emotionally. “You have to open the gates. Let the lock down lift!”

Shining rushed to her, handing the reigns to his capable second-hand in Flash. “What? That will just let more of them in. At least when they’re in the air we’re playing defense. If we open the gates they’ll storm the unicorns and the earth ponies.”

“Not the be the bearer of bad news, but they’re getting past you regardless. A whole colony of them is moving up the hall as we speak.” Sunburst interrupted.

Cadence rolled her eyes. “We need to evacuate the school. The changelings want what’s inside the vault… they don’t want to hurt ponies… though we may want to hurt them to keep them from getting it.”

Shining Armor sighed, “we can’t just let them take the Winter Maiden’s power, you… you’re a full realized maiden, unstoppable… That new girl- not so much.”

“But we can’t put every pony else in harm’s way.”

“Fall back!” Shining Armor commanded, and the formal royal guard gave him aggravated stares. “I say: fall back! Let’s get the students and faculty out of the school. There’s too many of them!”

Starlight swallowed the lump in her throat. The staff felt heavy, and nothing had ever felt heavy in her magical grasp before.

As the buzzing grew near to them, Fluttershy tucked herself behind the unicorn. “Hey, I’m not really sure about this.”

“Be unsure quietly, please.” Starlight demanded. “When I give you the signal, do your thing, alright?”

Fluttershy shook nervously, “a-alright.” She agreed reluctantly.

As the unyielding stream of enemies approached them, Starlight waved the staff. Lifting her body with her magic she pointed the staff toward the audience.

This was the signal, but as Fluttershy looked at the terrifying armored mugs, she hesitated.

Starlight shook, “Fluttershy!” She groaned through gritted teeth.

The Pegasus closed her eyes, gathering all her courage… as they came face to face with the creatures, she couldn’t take it any more. With all her might, she opened her eyes, willing each creature to freeze where they stood. And for a moment, they did.

Starlight lifted the staff to a vertical position and harnessed all her concentration. With a moment of nothingness, and a second of confusion, the changelings at the front of the crowd began to fall as whips of breath pulled from their bodies. Starlight had begun to absorb the magic of her enemies.

In that moment, Fluttershy’s resolve faltered. Allowing the line to begin their charge again.

Starlight’s body swirled with the power flinging it back with a flick of the weapon. Taking out a few others, but still, they were no match.

Rainbow Dash flew at a high speed, dropping Apple Jack beside Fluttershy as they pushed back the crowd. Sunset and Pinkie arriving in almost the same moment.

“This is the last stand, isn’t it.” Rainbow Dash winced.

“No! Never!” Apple Jack denied.

Chrysalis finally rose from the crowd. “Your last stand, perhaps not, I see what I’ve come for.” She said, the bladed wings ripping through the worthless disguise. The green eyes and the gleam of her unique exoskeleton captured their attention.

In a rush, she flung all her strength and body weight at Starlight Glimmer. Starlight, weakened from the battle, took the hit with detriment.

“You are mistaken.” The booming voice said from behind.

“And who might you be.” The Changeling noted, lifting Starlight by the mane with her green magic. “You dare lie to me, what pony else than a Maiden would have such strength.”

“Unhand her!” Sunset demanded. “She is not the pony you believe her to be.”

Starlight winced, putting her hooves to her head as her mane was pulled upward, hanging her in the air. “It’s me!” She screamed. “I’m the maiden!” She pointed her horn to slice through her own mane, hoping for a slight release from the pain, but Chrysalis had already begun wrapping her in some strange ectoplasm.

The team watched in terror, it was evident to them what she was attempting to do… to sacrifice herself in an attempt at saving her friend… but Chrysalis was none the wiser. And even if she were killed, she would only return in search of the true maiden.

There was a lull as the beating of wings ceased. The hall was silent. “Then I shall take you- my prisoner, and my minions shall destroy this bleak little institution.”

For My Last Trick

Trixie’s eyes peered over her friends and allies. Celestia and her little companion had toddled off.

It was left to her.

Her eyes traced the ceiling, eyes finally landing on a grate. “Well, there’s a way in… no magic necessary.”

Chrysalis swung the encapsulated Starlight from side-to-side. Her arrogance not even beginning to question how it could have been so easy to capture the Winter Maiden.

Starlight’s tension grew, and as she was entirely enveloped in her green prison, she had to save her breath. And while she was willing to lay her life down, to save Trixie’s, she really hoped someone would come to her rescue.

“It shall be quite painless.” The Queen said, though her smile said the opposite. “Well, I have never had any creature complain.” She chuckled. “Perhaps it is because I have never had any creature survive the cocooning.”

Shining Armor and Sunburst blew past changeling hoards, peering into rooms and down empty hallways.

The ponies here were smart and obedient, they weren’t sticking around to watch the school go down. “They have to be upstairs.” Sunburst insisted. “Cadence passed me there, I left my post, Celestia was still up there when we left.”

“And, your sister-“ Shining asked, almost leading his teammate to speak. He was the odd one out, Sunburst. Shining’s sister and his girlfriend-turned-fiancé were both on his team… and then there was Sunburst…

“I- I’m not sure.”

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy followed far behind. Pinkie Pie, Apple Jack, and Sunset Shimmer had stayed behind to guard the office doors. They served little purpose, other than fighting off the straggling changelings who hoped to wreak havoc.

“The roof is double paned glass.” Twilight insisted, her voice carrying through the hall as the pair of pegasi followed. “You’ll not be able to break it without magic.”

Celestia’s hooves stopped their tireless motion, turning to face her student. She noticed the two, but spoke only to Twilight. “Inside the office are two of the elements of harmony. A third is in my crown. The other three are dispersed: one in each of the other schools. I need to get to the elements of harmony before they are destroyed, or fall into the wrong hooves.” She spoke so freely about such privileged information. While Princess Celestia was usually level-headed, she’d seemed to have lost her cool. “If Starswirl has betrayed us, it is almost certain that He is already in possession of one of these elements.” She sighed. “I’m going up to the roof to protect the ponies of Equestria, stay or go, the choice is yours.”

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash exchanged unknowing glances. They knew not of these ‘elements of harmony’, but they sounded rather important.

Trixie trudged through the industrial ventilation system. Pulling all of her weight with her front legs, which was a lot more difficult than stories had always made it out to be.

As she reached the large return, she paused. “And If my efforts were not thwarted by a simple huntsman, well, you would not even be in this predicament!” The Queen took an exaggerated breath, clearly monologuing to no reply from Starlight. “Well, I likely would have destroyed the school before your insignificant little arrival. Oh, it would have spared you and your measly friends so much turmoil.”

Sunburst arrived at the top the stairs, turning up toward Celestia’s office. There stood a duo of strangers, and his own flesh and blood. “Sunset.” He said finally, as relief washed over him. “We have to get you out of here-“

“Stop right there!” The country pony yelled. “How’re we supposed’ta know if ya are who ya say ya are?”

Sunburst sighed, teleporting from side to side, as some sort of proof. “It’s fine Apple Jack… that’s just my brother.” Sunset Shimmer insisted, knowing full well she’d have been able to pick him out of a crowd of a thousand changelings who looked just like him.

“You’ve got a brother?” Apple Jack and Pinkie Pie asked simultaneously.

“Had one, that’s him right there.”

“Sorry to interrupt this lovely family reunion, but has any pony seen my sister?” Shining Armor interrupted. He held his hoof up to about his shoulder “she’s about this tall, purple fur, bad haircut?”

The trio exchanged glances before collectively pointing in the direction Celestia, Twilight, Rainbow, and Fluttershy had gone. “Yeah, she went that way.”

“Thanks… good luck Sunburst. Move quick, arlight?” He said, taking off in their guided direction.

The green goo slowly began to fill the cocoon, covering Starlights hind legs first as she was forced into a vertically upright position.

“No need to fret; it will soon be over now. My magic repellent spell is really keeping all your little pony friends at bay.” She giggled, but Starlight didn’t waste her breath.

Suddenly the grate covering the return vent flung open. Gracefully, a very determined Winter Maiden glided to the floor.

Trixie was dressed in her Rarity-made attire. The fine purple cloak fluttering around her as she made her grand entrance. A true performer. She landed firmly on the ground.

“Well, that is quite the convenient solution, isn’t it.” Chrysalis said, the fanged smile turning to a disapproving smirk. “Nevertheless, you are too late.” Her words were old and cliche.

“No, for it is you who are going to be too late!” Trixie said, enthusiastically. Earning an audible cringe from her friend who was currently imprisoned. “Do you want my help or not?” She barked.

Chrysalis couldn’t help but laugh, she nearly toppled over with laughter. Such a bizarrely dressed pony, with terrible line-delivery, and a comedically timed entry? It was undeniably hilarious.

Trixie took a moment to compose herself, tilting the brim of her hat over her head as she leaned to face the floor.

Her eyes began to burn out the sides, the blue flame igniting her age-old power. And with a swing of her horn, she blast through the pod: freeing her friend.

“Man, took you long enough.” Starlight said, playfully rolling over her back and then to her hooves. She stood side-by-side with Trixie, just like old times.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie never leaves her friends behind.” She said, the blue flames flickering as she spoke. “Try to keep up!”

Celestia flapped her large wings, standing on the roof of the school. The glass panes were thick, and try as she might, there was just no breaking them.

Twilight hopped and jumped with all her might, but it was much to her dismay that she was of no assistance.

“Look, I know your friends are in there, but what good are you doing them out here?” Sunburst reasoned with the three mares.

“We’re standing guard… duh?” Pinkie Pie said sarcastically.

“From what… the changelings are destroying the school… if they come up here you three aren’t going to stop them.”

“But they might come up here.” Sunset insisted. “And we could probably at least buy some time.”

“And just a chance of them coming up here is worth risking all of your lives?” He asked.

Pinkie Pie and Apple Jack seemed to follow his reasoning, but they knew Trixie and Starlight were just on the other side of the door… though they couldn’t get in… only by means of vent… and all of them in the vent? Well that would just make them an easy target…

“I’m not leaving them behind!” Sunset insisted.

“You won’t do them any good by staying here and getting yourselves killed!”

“I won’t leave them the way you left me!”

The hall was silent, save for the sounds of Sunset’s sobs. “My friends… my teammates are in there. So I’m going stay here til the battles done.”

“Sunset.” Sunburst said, tracing uncomfortable shapes into the carpet. “I’m here now. And I’m here to get you to safety.”

Apple Jack huffed, thinking of her own brother and sister back home… she had never backed down from a fight. But one thing was for certain: she sure did want to see them again… “Ladies, I, well-I’m gonna go…” she said awkwardly.

“Sunset, you should go with your brother.” Pinkie Pie said. “I’ll stay here.” Apple Jack and Sunset looked her over, the normally smiley pony was now full of somberness, but her twitching and the static air about her told them all they needed to know. “Seriously, I can handle it. I’ll send ya some postcards when it’s all over.”

“Twilight!” Shining Armor said as his teleportation bubble burst, just above the roof of the school. The magical spell seemed to impact the actual roof, but not the surrounding area. I.e. the… actual air.

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash caught him, huffing as they offered him a softer landing by slowly lowering his hooves to the glass panes. “You’re like, really heavy.” Rainbow Dash said.

“I’m a stallion.” Shining Armor said insecurely.

“A heavy stallion.” Rainbow muttered under her breath.

“Enough-“ Shining snapped lightly. “It is not safe here, your highness, Twilight. Let’s get you out of here.”

“Go or stay, the choice is yours. It is my sworn duty to protect the elements of harmony.”

Shining Armor rolled his eyes. “Fine, I have no authority over you, Princess.” He replied, clearly more interested in getting his sister to safety than arguing with somepony who was seemingly immortal. “You, however.” He said, grabbing his sister’s tail. “You’re coming with me.”

The laser show within the office left it nearly completely decimated. The desk flipped, bookshelves knocked to the ground. Trixie and Starlight took their turns having at Queen Chrysalis, but it was no use.

Chrysalis caught her breath, only for a moment. “Tis’ you.” She laughed. “A character and only a pawn. You are no match for me even with the Winter Maiden’s power.”

Starlight’s temper burned, and for a moment, Trixie would’ve believed her to have Sunset’s semblance the way her anger blazed. But, as she looked her over, she recalled the fear in her eyes… when she had used the Winter Maiden power back in their dorm room… the fear in everypony’s eyes.

She recalled the look on the old mare’s face, before she’d given up. The contentment, but also the uncertainty. Somepony had died for her to have this power and she was taking it for granted. “C’mon Trixie, no more games.”

Trixie swallowed, “That is where you are wrong, Starlight. It will only be games from now on.”

She released her held breath, placing a bubble around Starlight “No, Trixie, wait! We are going to figure this out together!” and as the bubble burst, Starlight was expelled from the school.

Celestia’s eyes fell to tears. “I know what must be done.” She sighed. “Please, do not give up on your studies.”

“Now’s not the time for that!” Shining Armor insisted.

The large wings beat up into the sky, far up until the circular sun created the perfect silhouette. The wings and horn, the endlessly flowing mane, she seemed so at peace.

“Starlight!” Sunset shouted, followed by Apple Jack. “You’re okay, but where’s-“

“She’s still in there.” Starlight replied. She sat completely on her behind, legs outstretched, she seemed completely defeated.

A burst of purple came, revealing Shining Armor, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy.

“Where’s-“

“Let’s not talk about it.” Shining Armor insisted.

Trixie’s body lifted off the ground, cape fluttering as the winter breeze began. The speed picked up, turning from a breeze to a gust. “I am not like you.” Trixie said. The blue flames in her eyes lit the room. “I am not afraid of failure.”

Chrysalis’s tiny rounded wings beat against the current. “I am not fearful, for I do not fail, frail creature.” Chrysalis struggled, but her attitude was that of a victor.

“You are afraid, I can sense it on you.” Trixie said, her hat finally breaking free and her cape barely hanging on. “You are so afraid of what failing to take my power will mean for you and for your creatures… but me? All I’ve ever done is fail… and it’s made me stronger, your failures make you angry, mine make me resilient.”

Chrysalis stammered, throwing blasts at her, they struck, but Trixie seemed unfazed. Her body may have been wounded, but her face did not show. “I and the Queen of the Changelings and I fear nothing!”

“And I, am the Great and Powerful Trixie.” She took a deep breath assessing her injuries. Plastering on a showpony’s smile as she spoke, “And for my last trick!” She said chipperly. The beam came from her horn and the light overtook the room.

Celestia turned away, not watching to see if her students had retreated, though she really hoped they had. They could be so hard-headed… suppose they had learned it from her.

As she leaned back, her head flipped toward the roof of the school once more. In a diving motion, she glowed in a ball of flame. Embodying the light of the sun.

The fall was painless, but those who have fallen often say falling is much like flying until you reach the end.

Twilight watched in horror at the captivating display. “She’s going to sacrifice herself, but if she is dead there will be no one to collect the elements of harmony.”

Shining Armor held up one hoof, shaking his head in disapproval, but Twilight was a headstrong mare… she did not need his approval.

Pinkie Pie felt the radiation against her back, a bizarre and uncommon type of spell. One that she knew almost from first hand experience, like a part of her was familiar with it somehow.

“Guess that’s what you were on about, huh.” She said, as if speaking to herself. “Alright.”

Pinkie Pie’s smile spread from ear to ear, it was go-time.

As the blaze cleared, Chrysalis looked around, checking her limbs and wings. She was now filled with holes, splitting through her armored body and chipping off portions of her wings, but other than some cosmetics… she was unscathed. “You foolish pony! Do you think my vanity will save you?”

But, as the smoke cleared, it became evident that she was not the only creature capable of creating enclosures.

Trixie’s body stood, immortalized in stone. “What?” Chrysalis stood, stunned, touching the stone, trying to chip at it, to no avail. “What kind of trickery is this?”

any creature captured in stone will be just that… captured. You will not be able to communicate with them or any power they may have

Pinkie Pie took a breath, gathering all the strength she had. As the chaos threatened to bubble over, she hummed. Phasing through the door, and in a split second, took ahold of the newly statued Trixie.

She had no time to be disturbed by it, for she only had a few moments to thoroughly exert her power.

Her body began to twitch, the motion, watching the slow-moving Chrysalis try to keep her eyes on her. She couldn’t help but laugh, and as quickly as she’d changed her molecular structure to get in there she did the same, and got the two of them out.

The Curtain Call

As Celestia careened through the literal glass ceiling, the impact and flame took two lives. Or, so the story went.

The changeling army had done irreparable damage to the structural integrity of the building. Any pony, or changeling, for that matter still inside when the floors fell… one after another, well… it wasn’t likely that they would ever be found.

Shining Armor stood at the base of the rubble, his sister had only moments prior run inside… how could she have known that Celestia’s dive would be the last push to send the four-story building to ruin.

She couldn’t have.

Pinkie Pie fell as her body seemed to fragment through time and space, pressing the once weightless statue with all of her strain.

Chaos was an addiction, a drug that left you feeling wore out with every use.

Starlight traced the statue with her hoof. “She’s… gone?” The tears in her eyes wouldn’t even threaten to fall, no, they had no use in threatening the inevitable.

Sunset stood back, too afraid to touch the stone remains of her friend. “Why would we do that.”

“Because she knew Chrysalis wasn’t strong enough to break the stone and take the power.” Cadence said, breaking away only momentarily from her grieving fiancé. “Trixie was a calculated pony… smarter than everypony gave her credit for.”

“So… is she…” Apple Jack asked.

Cadence looked over the statue. “No. I mean, not in the way you mean when you say somepony’s dead.” They all swallowed mournfully at the mention of the word. Cadence looked over at Shining Armor, he was inconsolable… “Maybe she’ll be free someday.”

“She’s not gone.” Shining repeated, as the tears covered his face and hooves. “I was supposed to protect her.”

Cadence breathed out a calm sigh. “You’re right… she’s not gone.”

And there, emerged the resilient young mare. Covered in rubble, just barely alive… but not gone.

Rarity set the crown on her desk. Enveloping herself in the blanket her younger sister had spent all semester learning to knit for her.

She was grateful and warm. Ponyville was a bit far from Canterlot… surely Princess Celestia would come looking for her crown any day…

Sunset returned home with her brother, and though she wasn’t exactly fond of her parents or their sexist beliefs… for a moment they were a family again. Away from the torment of changeling attacks and magical relics… far, far away.

Starlight sat in her new Canterlot apartment. It wasn’t much, but the Canterlot Department of Education was putting students up while the school was being rebuilt.

So, she, and her new Winter Maiden statue could remain cozy. Until they could get back to their training.

Shining Armor and Cadence decided to split the new vacant responsibilities. Cadence, as the Spring Maiden and royally crowned Princess, would take over leadership in Canterlot. While, once the school was completed, Shining Armor would become the new headmaster.

Apple Jack returned home to the farm. And while she missed her team, sparring, and lifting up full tables of student just for the fun of it… she couldn’t say she was disappointed to be home with her family… in one piece of course.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy returned to Cloudsdale. To much fanfare, the duo became micro-celebrities. After the Fall of the School For Gifted Unicorns, everypony wanted to ask them what had happened.

Rainbow Dash, being a mild show-boater herself, was more than willing to talk all about it. So long as it kept the attention on her.

Fluttershy, on the other hand, was not so fond of her new found popularity. From the market, to the coffee shop, she was always hounded as being ‘that pony from Celestia’s school’.

So, she simply stopped going out all together.

Pinkie Pie, left. And nopony has heard from her since.

“Oh and wasn’t that a fabulous fable, Starswirl?” He said, smiling as contently as somepony who’d just won a first-prize trophy.

“What? You say they both died?” Starswirl asked, “how could you possibly know.”

“Oh you know nothing of me and your ‘Princess’, do you?” He laughed, serpent tongue slithering out of his mouth like the devil. “I know everytime that pony has died, 57, 58. Oh you know, she had really thought she’d bested me this time, oh a thousand years… quite impressive. Though, nothing compared to the life I’ve lead.” Starswirl raised an eyebrow, scrunching up his cheek. “And that changeling, a shame, she’s never read the one about the man and all of his hubris. Oh there are quite a number of novels on that, aren’t there.”

“What more could you want, you have the element of loyalty, if the school is destroyed just take the three elements for yourself.” Starswirl insisted.

“I had no one to retrieve it… the changeling was such an incompetent excuse of a living being, she had forgot why I wanted the Winter Maiden’s power in the first place. To take the elements, but in all her monologuing and wasting time… they got away with them.” He huffed out a hot breath like a bull ready to charge. “Generosity, Magic, Laughter. Gone.”

“There are still Honesty and Kindness.” Starswirl replied, as if that made up for their failures.

“Honesty and Kindness… are you being serious?” He began to laugh, as this measly pony must have been joking. “I need magic, without magic, the other elements DON’T WORK.”