Preview of the Next Chapter: Crash Course In Ultra Ass-Kicking

Unknown to most of Canterlot city, there is a portal beneath the statue on the grounds of Canterlot High School. Sometimes, a purple girl in a light blue blouse walks out of it. Fortunately for Sunset, this was one of those times.

In the very early morning before the school opened, Princess Twilight Sparkle stepped, or more accurately fell, out of the portal to Sunset and Wallflower's feet. Upon shaking the cobwebs out of her head, she caught sight of Sunset and shot to her feet in a barrage of questions.

"SUNSET! OH I'M SORRY I'M LATE! I'M LATE AREN'T I!? WHAT'S WRONG!? IS IT THE DAZZLINGS!? ARE THEY BACK!? YOUR MESSAGE ONLY SAID 'I NEED YOUR HELP URGENTLY, COME QUICK'! Wait, WHERE ARE THE GIRLS!? AND WHO'S SHE!?"

"TWILIGHT!" Sunset yelled, halting Twilight's frantic questioning, "I promise I'll answer all of your questions, but you need to calm down first."

Twilight nodded and went into the breathing exercises her sister-in-law taught her, then asked more calmly, "Sunset what happened? Your message made it sound like another magical incident, but if that was the case, where are the rest of the girls? Did something happen between you that you need help with? And who is that girl with you?"

"I would like to get this over with as quickly as possible before the other students start showing up, so I'll answer those questions in one answer," Sunset said. "No, complicated, and Wallflower."

"That... THAT DOESN'T TELL ME ANYTHING!" Twilight shrieked, preparing to work herself into another panic attack.

"Twilight, I promised that you would get your answers, but we can't do this here or in the city," Sunset said with finality. "We have to go deep into the woods near here, so please, just trust me."

Twilight was unsure. Of course she trusted Sunset, but she was behaving so strangely that it was worrying her. If whatever was going on was so dire, why did she not bring the rest of their friends? Why, instead, did Sunset call for her and then bring someone Twilight had never met before? Why did Sunset say that her friendship with the girls was "complicated"? The questions just kept piling up, but Sunset was not being forthcoming with answers. In the end, Twilight had to trust that Sunset would explain everything if she went with her, "okay."

Sunset released a relieved breath, "thanks Twi. Well if we're all ready, lets go."

Wallflower and Twilight nodded, following Sunset into the forest.

*////*

The thing about Equestria is that the primary inhabitants are ponies, and as such are quadrupedal. Unless a pony stays for a prolonged period of time across the portal, they struggle with long distance travel on foot. Such was the case with one Twilight Sparkle, who was now panting like she was about to die, "Sunset, how much further do we need to be?"

"What's supposed to happen is apparently going to be big, so deep enough to not be visible from the school," Sunset replied.

"Sunset," Twilight said with as much firmness as she could muster in her exhausted state. "I want to believe you, but you have been behaving strangely since I arrived, and without the other girls here I'm even more worried, If you want me to trust you, you need to give me something to work with here."

Sunset hesitated. Knowing how Twilight was, she had wanted to hold off on telling her because she would inevitably rush off to try and fix things between her friends, and that was not something that needed to happen now. However, if Twilight was not willing to keep walking, Sunset would need to interest her with something, "Okay." She turned to Wallflower and nodded.

Wallflower looked unsure but reached for her bag anyway. Opening it up, she said, "It's okay, you can come out Taro."

Then to Twilight's disbelief, a small red toy floated out of Wallflower's bag. "Uhg, travel in a bag never seems to improve. Oh," it said, noticing Twilight. "You must be Princess Twilight of Equestria. I am Ultraman Taro of Planet Ultra in the M78 Nebula, pleased to meet you your Highness."

To Taro's perplexment, Twilight did not address him, but instead turned to Sunset and asked, "Discord is involved in this isn't he?"

"What? No, Twilight he-" Sunset tried to explain, but Twilight continued regardless.

"He's the only one capable of this. It's why the others aren't here, right? He did something to them,"

"Twilight, if you would just-"

"I thought he had changed, that he was better. But instead he just decided to come here to cause chaos. The nerve of him,"

"Twilight, stop!"

"WELL I WON'T STAND FOR THIS! I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND MAKE HIM FIX THINGS HERE! EVEN IF I HAVE TO TURN HIM BACK TO STONE TO DO IT! Don't worry Sunset I'll be right back," Twilight turned to return to CHS, but was literally stopped in her tracks by a shriek.

"ULTRA PSYCHOKINESIS!"

Taro, using his psychic powers, had frozen Twilight in place before she could take a step.

"Taro! What are you-!" Sunset started, however Wallflower interrupted, "Sunset, she wasn't listening, what else was Taro supposed to do?"

Sunset became silent with that. Wallflower was right, what was supposed to do in this situation? Sighing, she walked over to Twilight. "Taro, release her."

Taro did as requested, and Twilight stumbled forward, "Sunset, what was that? The toy screamed Ultra-something, and then I couldn't move. I have never felt a spell like that before."

"I HAVE A NAME YOU KNOW!" Taro yelled, indignant.

"TARO! Please," Sunset said, silencing Taro, who, despite not being able to move his facial features, seemed to be pouting. "Twilight. I know you're very, ah, magic minded, but don't you think it's selfish to assume that if something happens here that magic is involved? Just because it looks like it is?"

Twilight gasped, then gained a look of panicked confliction, "but, WHAT ELSE COULD THIS BE!? THAT TOY IS FLYING AND-!"

"TWILIGHT IF YOU WOULD STOP TALKING AND LISTEN WE COULD HAVE EXPLAINED THAT BY NOW!" Sunset screamed, having lost her patience.

Twilight flinched as though struck and looked to be on the verge of crying, "S-sorry."

Sunset felt as though she had been punched, "H-hey, Twilight. I-I'm sorry. I don't say that to be mean, but when you get excited you tend to shut everything else out and start talking but never listening. So please, open your mind and listen before speaking, and I Pinkie Promise you this will all make sense," Sunset said as softly as possible while doing the motions.

Twilight still did not look happy about it, but at least she did not seem ready to cry anymore, "Okay."

Sunset let out a breath and gave Twilight a small smile, "Thank you." She looked at Taro and gave him a nod.

"Finally. Well as I have said, I am Ultraman Taro of-"

*////*

I'm still working on the next chapter, but it occurs to me that I might not be able to keep the characters 100% consistent with their source material (Pinkie Pie springs to mind). So if anyone would be willing to help in this regard, I would greatly appreciate it. Until next time, farewell.