Equestria Girls: Go, Rainbooms and CMCs, Go!

The cold metallic hum of the room was punctuated by the soft whir of machinery and the occasional frustrated grunt from Rainbow Dash as she thrashed against her restraints. "Ugh! This is ridiculous! We can't just sit here while Sunset's out there somewhere screaming for help!"

"I’m trying, darling!" Rarity wailed, tugging futilely at the tight white jumpsuit that clung to her like a second skin. The bright red hood framing her face and sealing her hair inside it only deepened her despair. "This horrid jumpsuit is going to leave wrinkles! Permanent wrinkles!"

"I’m sure we’ll find a way out soon, Rarity. Try to think about something pleasant. Like... um... kittens?" Fluttershy said, her voice loud but soothing since it’s one prisoner per tube and she has to find some way for Rarity to hear her.

Rarity sniffled, only partially mollified. "Even kittens can’t save this disaster."

Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie giggled as she bounced as much as her restraints allowed. "I don’t know what you’re all whining about! These outfits are so cool! We look like movie astronauts!”

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo—trapped in smaller, child-sized tubes—perked up at the mention of astronauts. "Astronauts!" Scootaloo exclaimed, her voice tinged with excitement. "This is perfect for our next Canterlot Movie Club screening! We can do a sci-fi theme!"

"Yeah!" Sweetie Belle agreed. "As soon as we get out of here, we can watch Space Explorers 4: The Cosmic Quest!"

Applejack sighed, her voice laced with irritation as she flexed her muscles against the unyielding metal restraints. "Y'all can dream about space movies later. Right now, we gotta figure out how to bust outta here. These restraints are tougher than steel!"

Sci-Twi, meanwhile, furrowed her brow, her mind racing as she analyzed the machinery keeping them trapped. "The restraints are powered by that panel," she muttered, adjusting her glasses. "If we can disrupt its power source, we might be able to escape."

Spike, who had been listening intently, perked up. "That’s great, but how are we supposed to reach it? We’re all stuck, remember?"

Sci-Twi’s eyes lit up as an idea struck her. "Not necessarily." She closed her eyes, concentrating deeply, and when she opened them again, her pupils glowed faintly with magenta energy. With a burst of effort, twin beams of telekinetic energy shot from her eyes, striking the control panel on the far wall.

It seems that the Rainbooms still have some of their geode powers stored just in case of emergencies.

The panel sparked and hissed before exploding in a shower of sparks. One by one, the restraints holding Sci-Twi, Spike, and the rest of the Rainbooms hissed open, releasing them from their metallic prisons.

"We’re free!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, pumping her fists in the air. "Alright, let’s go get Sunset!"

"Hold on there, sugarcube," Applejack said, glancing over at the still-restrained CMCs. "We ain’t leavin’ until we get the young’uns out too."

The girls hurried over to the smaller tubes housing Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. Each tube had its own control panel, smaller but equally complex. Rarity, her earlier distress momentarily forgotten, studied the panels. "Hmm… This is delicate work. Twilight, darling, any ideas?"

Sci-Twi examined the panels carefully. "The restraints are locked by a secondary power source. I can try to short-circuit it, but it might take a few minutes."

"Do it," Applejack said firmly. "We’ll keep an eye out for any trouble."

As Sci-Twi got to work, Spike’s ears perked up. "Wait! I think I hear something!"

The group froze, their gazes darting to the far side of the room. From a distant corridor, faint but unmistakable, came a desperate scream. "HELP ME!"

"Sunset!" Sci-Twi gasped, her hands trembling. She redoubled her efforts, her glowing eye beams focusing on the panel keeping the CMCs locked up.

"Go on!" Sweetie Belle urged. "We’ll be fine. Just save Sunset!"

Applejack placed a comforting hand on Apple Bloom’s tube. "We ain’t leavin’ you, sugarcube. Sunset wouldn’t want us splittin’ up."

"I’ve almost got it!" Sci-Twi said, sparks flying as the last of the CMCs’ restraints hissed open.

The second the girls were free, Rainbow Dash heads toward the corridor, the others hot on her heels. "Hang on, Sunset! We’re coming!"

To be continued…