Team Star

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.