Team Star

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.”