Team Star

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.