//------------------------------// // Chapter 20 - To Return // Story: Finding a Place // by Battlecat //------------------------------// My head was throbbing with pain as I slowly regained consciousness on the balcony overlooking the Crystal Empire. Well, sort of regained consciousness considering this was just a dream. I was relieved I still had awareness and could enter my dream but my skin started to prickle with fear as I took in the distorted surroundings. The view was obscured by a dark gloomy fog and it felt unnaturally cold. The usually stunning tower seemed to have been infected with a horrible gray and black crystal coating. Worst of all, Spark's chair was empty and he was nowhere in sight. I shouted into the gloom. “Spark? Where are you?” My voice was muted by the oppressive fog. There was no response but then I heard a voice inside the tower dripping with malice. "You will obey. Give us your magic." I ran for the balcony door and yanked it opened. The normal room was gone, replaced by a dark stone dungeon corridor. The walls were damp, oozing with an oily black liquid. I walked cautiously down the hallway, listening for any sign of life. "Give up. You belong to us now." The sinister voice was getting louder but then a second voice drifted down the hall. “No, I won't. Never.” The weak voice was my own and I knew it had to be Spark. I started running down the hall and rounded a corner before stopped in shock. A giant blood red scorpion was standing next to a slowly shrinking cocoon of black smoke. Inside the mass, I could see a dim green flickering green. The faint outline of a prone creature was inside and I knew in my heart that was Spark. “SPARK! WAKE UP!” I shouted. Spark rolled over and stared at me blankly, “Silver? What?” "DIE INTERLOPER!" The scorpion charged at me and I suddenly felt terribly vulnerable. I reached over my shoulder and drew a broadsword I knew wasn't there a moment earlier. I parried the vicious stinger as it stabbed towards my body and quickly stepped to the side. The tail lunged with strike after strike, but I blocked strike after strike. Then I was past the creature and after the next block, I struck a blow on its head. While it stumbled back stunned I ran over to the insubstantial prison holding my brother and slashed it opened with the sword. He looked worse for wear and had been stung at least a couple times by the scorpion but he still managed a weak grin. That grin suddenly transformed into fear and he lunged away. “Watch out!” "Your defiance is useless. You will obey us." I jumped to the side of the corridor just before the bladed tail slammed down into the cobblestone floor where I had been standing. I stumbled and my sword flew out of my hand. Gravel flew from the impact and sprayed my face with stinging shards. I looked across the hall at Spark who was struggling to his hooves just like I was struggling to stand. Our eyes met and we both knew we were in horrible danger. The scorpion drew back to strike again and I knew I had no more time. Suddenly a new voice pierced through the gloom and the dungeon was warmed by a golden light. “I'm right here beside you Silver. You are not alone.” The scorpion-shaped monstrosity screeched at the new intrusion. The voice burned away my fear and let me look at the situation during a brief moment of calm. I quickly got up to my feet and stepped away before the Scorpion could recover. "OBEY US!" “Sunset . . .” Spark murmured as he got up on his hooves. “This is nothing. You survived a Sakitan Dagger; you can beat this too.” ”OBEY US! YOUR POWER IS OURS!” the scorpion growled again and began scrabbling forward. “The dagger . . .” I mumbled while I stared at the scorpion. Why had the invading magic chosen this form? I felt a simultaneous burst of shock as both Spark and I put the pieces together at the same moment. Spark was the first to put words to our realization. “SILVER! It’s infecting the damage left by the dagger!” “I think you're right!” I shouted back at Spark. "What do we do with that knowledge?" “It is your body, you are in control.” Spark's eyes widened. "You watched what Princess Luna did to stop the curse, right?" I knew exactly what he was thinking. “It's a long shot Spark," I shouted back while dodging another attack from the scorpion. Spark started galloping down the hall. "It's the only idea I've got." "We'll go down fighting then, I'm right behind you!,” I yelled, sprinting after Spark. "OBEY ME!" the scorpion screamed as it started skittering down the hall behind us. Spark was quickly approaching the door. “Just like Princess Luna did to save us, Silver! We already know where this began!” “And that's where this is going to end,” I responded, following close behind him. At our words, the dungeon door ahead of us shimmered and became the school cafeteria entrance. We dashed across the cafeteria and stopped at our table beside the frozen memory of our friends while Spark jumped up on the table next to me. The scorpion crashed through the door behind us and started moving across the crowded room, kicking the frozen caricatures of students and tables out of its way. "Luna, please guide our magic," I whispered in silent prayer. Spark lifted his hoof and I reached out to grab it just like when we ponied up. A spark of green energy flared up just above our connection. It flickered and pulsed erratically as we tried to use our magic to create a trap for the monster like Luna had. It was like trying to grab a stream of water as the magic refused to respond to our attempts to weave it. Even if this was a dream, we were not omnipotent and it was showing. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing Silver?” asked Spark in a panicked voice. “Not a bloody clue Spark! You know everything I do about this process. I’m flying as blind as you are here!” The Scorpion who had paused nervously to watch roared with alien laughter at our failure and resumed its charge toward us. “YOUR POWER IS MINE WEAKLINGS!” I felt fear burning through my soul and I felt Spark’s hoof quivering in my hand. A trickle of moisture ran down my face as my nose began to bleed from our effort to control the situation. All we had crafted was a small green sphere of magic that was like a faltering candle in a breeze. We stared into the face of our nightmare reborn and braced for the end. "We can't do this, can we Spark?" I whispered sadly as the insectoid monster rapidly closed in. "We don't know enough," he echoed. “Don’t be afraid. Take my strength if you can Silver.” We almost jumped out of our skin when a peach colored hand joined in right where my hand and Spark's hoof were connected. I looked over at the rigid figure of my friend that had gotten up to her feet and joined us. Her gold and red hair framed a frozen expression of confident defiance that we hadn't seen on her face since the formal. A tingling sensation drew my gaze back to the magic. Both Spark and I gasped in surprise as a tendril of teal energy flowed from Sunset's hand into our connection. The new magic flowed upwards into the faltering green sphere; building and reinforcing the structure we were failing to create. The scorpion stopped abruptly and started scrabbling to move backward when tendrils of magic lashed out of the small sphere. The sphere dissipated from our hands as the tendrils wrapped around the scorpion forming a large prison and began to shrink. The scorpion had run out of angry repetitions of the same meaningless command and instead just screeched as the ball of energy imploded down to nothingness. The room was dead silent for a moment but then a hurricane of air howled out of the space where the beast had disappeared. Moments later it was followed by a glowing white wave of energy that rapidly consumed the room. Spark and I stood steady like a rock against the wind but the room just blurred out of existence as the whiteness overwhelmed our senses. Tuesday, November 15, 2016 – Continued There was a cold hard surface pressing uncomfortably against my cheek as awareness began to return to me. I was strangely calm as my senses slowly stopped aching and the pain I had been feeling when I fainted evaporated instantly. I felt the wings sprouting from my back and the ears growing as my connection with Spark took hold. I couldn't move my hand for some reason and when I opened my eyes to look down at it I was surprised by what I saw. My fingers were tightly interwoven with the fingers of a familiar peach hand. Those hands were both gripping each other as if for dear life. I was lying on the floor of the nurse’s office on my side and there was something leathery in my mouth. I tried to spit it out but it was stuck on something. I opened my mouth wide and realized my fangs had punctured through it as they grew in. I let go of the comforting hand and carefully slide it off the fangs and discovered it was the sleeve of Sunset’s leather jacket folded in half. I looked at the punctures that went completely through three layers of the sleeve and frowned. “Sweet Gods above . . .” I heard Ruby whisper in astonishment. “Silver . . . are you ok?” Sunset asked in a worried voice while keeping her grip on my hand. I rolled onto my back and found Sunset gazing down at me. Her eyes were wide with fear and shone with barely controlled tears. It was rare to see her without her leather jacket and she looked incredibly vulnerable in her simple purple halter neck shirt. She searched my eyes for answers as if she didn't know what she would find. I weakly lifted my free hand and put it on the side of her face. “I could hear you Sunset,” I whispered to reassure her. “You gave me the strength to win.” A couple tears dripped out of her eyes as she closed them. I felt her relax against my hand and she shivered. “Thank Celestia you’re still you,” she said quietly. “That was terrifying.” She opened her eyes back up and she picked up a damp cloth to wipe my face off. The cloth came away red with blood, suggesting the nosebleed hadn't just been a dream. Once she was done I tried to sit up but I couldn’t find the energy. Instead, I rolled over onto my stomach and started crawling towards the bed. My wings were dragging limp on my sides as I moved. Ruby and Sunset helped me up enough so I could flop down on my face. I felt my wings hanging limply over the side of the bed but I didn't have the will to fold them up more comfortably. I shivered when I felt Sunset gently lifting them up and folding them so they were more comfortable. I turned my head and found Ruby standing nearby with a look of almost child-like wonder on her face while she watched Sunset manipulate my new appendages. “These wings are real aren't they Sunset?” Ruby asked quietly. “You mean, everything at the fall formal really did happen?” “Yes, that's right Nurse Redheart,” she replied sadly before switching to explanations. “He doesn’t have the energy to work the wing muscles right now so I’m folding them for his comfort. You have to be gentle with wings since they're very sensitive to touch.” “It took everything I had to hold the magic in when we came down here,” I whispered in a tired voice. Sunset grabbed my hand and held it tight. “What happened to you, Silver? The other students got in terrible arguments when the new girls sang. Our friends are fine, but you looked like you were having a seizure when we got in here. I had to use my jacket to keep you from biting your tongue. How did you fight it off?” I thought back over the events after their arrival. “As soon as those girls started to sing, I felt like something was tearing at my mind. I couldn’t even hear the music, just a voice demanding that I obey, hate and release my anger. I haven't been in pain that extreme since the day of the formal. ” I gazed into Sunset's lovely eyes. “Whatever their magic is, I think it got in through the damage caused by the Dagger. I heard your voice and you gave me that clue that allowed me to recognize what was going on. I couldn't manipulate my magic to replicate Princess Luna's spell to purge my mind. Then you offered me your strength and whatever you did gave me what I was missing to trap the invader and destroy it. I don’t think I could have pulled through without you.” "Princess Luna?!" Ruby muttered to herself in disbelief. Sunset smiled at my words. "You could hear me?” “Your voice was like a burst of sunlight cutting through the pain,” I replied. “I am so sorry about your jacket.” She blushed at my words and shook her head. “It was worth it. You were having a seizure and it was the only thing immediately on hand to keep you from hurting yourself. I’m sure I can get it fixed.” “You should stay here and rest Silver,” Ruby interrupted. “I'll send word on to your teachers that you are ill but you’ll need to get back to class Sunset. I assume you'd like these abilities kept under wraps?” When I nodded she continued. “Consider it done and the offer of discretion applies to any other students who might have similar. . . conditions.” “It's more of a gift, Ruby,” I murmured. “These wings really work.” “I’d suggest you try to avoid the new students Miss Redheart,” Sunset said quietly. “I’d hate to see you fall under their influence. Everyone is fighting again, even worse than before the fall formal.” “I will do my best Sunset. Thank you for the warning.” Sunset and Ruby walked to the door while chatting about possible ways she could avoid being enchanted by the new girls. Meanwhile, I turned my attention inwards. Spark. Are you going to be ok now? I think so. The attacking magic seems to be gone. Thank goodness. Can we fight it off next time? Maybe? There’s really no way to know. I suppose you’re right. I think you need rest in case it comes up again. Agreed. We’ll talk later. I let out a long breath and felt my Thestral attributes dissolve away. Weariness overtook me as my normal human endurance returned. I closed my eyes and drifted off into a deep dreamless sleep. Sunset and Rarity woke me up from my nap at the end of the school day. I was refreshed but there was a deep-seated weariness lurking under the surface. Together we walked down the empty halls to the front door. The few students still present shot vicious glares our way but didn't interfere with our passage. The rest of the girls were waiting outside by the statue. Apparently, after Sunset confirmed I was safe they had gone to report the new girls to the principals. Apparently, that conversation hadn't gone so well. “The Dazzlings, as they've chosen to name themselves, have Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna under their control already,” said Sunset glumly from her seat next to me. “I just wish I knew what they were doing,” I said. “The school seems worse now than it was before Twilight came.” “They've gotten to everybody,” said Rainbow Dash while bouncing a soccer ball on her knee. “Not everybody!” said Pinkie cheerfully. “Pinkie Pie's right,” said Applejack. “We were there when the Dazzlings were singin' and we weren't affected. It was like we were protected somehow. Silver's reaction was somethin' else, though. Ah'm glad you're ok but do you know what happened?” “I'm pretty much certain it's residual injuries from that dagger,” I replied. “I don’t know that there’s any way to know how long it will take a torn soul to heal. It doesn't really matter right now. What's important is, the thing attacking me wanted my magic.” “Well then let's show them some magic and take them down!” said Dash, punching her fist into her plan enthusiastically. “It's not like we haven't tangled with dark magic before and totally whooped its sorry butt! Uh, no offense.” Sunset let out a weary sigh. “None taken. Again.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and gave her a comforting hug. “But that was when Twilight was here,” said Fluttershy quietly. “There may be magic inside us but we can't just use it like Silver can. It only comes out when we play music and I wouldn't know how to use it too . . . whoop anybody's butt.” “Just because I can access my magic consciously doesn't mean I'm able to fight them off either,” I added. “My only interaction with them so far sent me to the nurse’s office to have a seizure. I just hope their magic won’t take me down like that next time.” Rarity looked up from doing her nails while leaning on the portal surface. “That’s assuming we let them get another shot at you, darling. If only we could get a message to Twilight. Maybe she could tell us how to break the spell the Dazzlings have put on our classmates.” “Well that's not gonna happen,” said Rainbow Dash, dropping the ball at her feet. “The portal's closed for a long time.” She wound up and kicked the ball full force at the portal. Rarity shrieked and ducked, dragging a line of nail polish up her arm. She stared at it in horror. “GAH!” screamed Rarity. Dash deftly caught the ball on the rebound. “And I get the feeling they don't exactly have cell phones where she's from.” I pulled a cloth out of my bag to help Rarity clean her arm. “Thank you, Silver,” she said. “You need to be more careful Rainbow Dash!” “Aww lighten up Rarity,” replied Dash. “It's just a bit of nail polish, no big deal.” “Ya need to stop fiddling with your looks all the time Rarity,” added Applejack. “Looking good is a full-time job, my dear Applejack,” she replied. I put my hand on the portal surface and closed my eyes. It was warm to the touch as always providing confirmation to me that the portal was still here. “A single step to cross between one universe and the next,” I murmured out loud. “Closed but for a chosen moment every 30 moons. The connection is still here; I can feel it hasn't gone away. I just wish I knew if it was closed completely or if there was some way to push something through. Even a note would be enough.” Everyone was staring at me when Sunset suddenly snapped her fingers. “It's a long shot but I might have an idea how we can get in touch with Princess Twilight.” She beckoned for us to follow so we all got up to our feet and followed her into the school. We walked inside and down the hallway to Sunset's locker. She opened it up and leaned down to dig through a box in the bottom. “I'm surprised you use your locker Sunset,” I said. “My books were nearly destroyed on my first day here. Someone managed to pour syrup through the vent. I carry everything in my backpack now.” “Oh, I sealed the vents up ages ago,” she replied. “I didn’t want to give anyone an easy route to retaliate against me. Here it is.” She stood up and blew the dust off a beautiful leather bound book with her red and gold cutie mark engraved on the cover. A wistful, nostalgic expression appeared on her face as she stared at the book and ran her hand over the textured cover. “When I was Princess Celestia's student back in Equestria, she gave me this,” she explained. “Even after I abandoned my studies, I held onto it. Deep down, I guess I knew I was making a big mistake, and I wanted to still have a way to reach out to her. Maybe it still works.” “That's a book darling,” said Rarity said somewhat sarcastically. “What do you mean, 'maybe still works'?” Sunset’s voice brightened. “It used to be that if I wrote something here, it would appear in the pages of a book back in Princess Celestia's library. If I can get a message to her, then she can get a message to Princess Twilight.” “It's just like journey books that show up in stories I've read,” I observed. “You think the link to its partner might work even though the portal is closed?” “It's possible,” she replied. “The portal is closed, yes, but I'm certain there is still something there. This is the only option I can think of that won't take two more years.” “So what are you waiting for?” said Dash, holding out a pen. “Get to writing!” Sunset took the pen and sighed as she began writing. “It's been a long time since I've written these words. 'Dear Princess Celestia . . .” Wednesday, November 16, 2016 After a dreamless night, I was barely ready to face the expected insanity at school. When I woke up I was relieved Spark was right there speaking with me. We concluded it was exhaustion from fighting off the siren's spell. The school day was the expected nightmare of disharmony in our school as the various cliques fought for status and attention while the Battle of the Bands was organized. We stayed together in groups of two or three as often as we could. We took shifts waiting by the statue while Sunset monitored her journal. An hour after the end of the school day we all gathered at the statue again. We had discussed other options over the course of the day but our ideas simply came up short. All we could do now was wait and hope a message or a miracle would arrive from Equestria. Pinkie and Applejack were playing cards on top of the statue and Rarity was doing Fluttershy’s nails. Rainbow Dash was twitchy, passing a soccer ball back and forth between her hands. Sunset was leaning on the portal, looking into her book with growing sadness as every minute passed. I was on the other side of the portal sitting cross-legged with my cheek resting against the warmth of the portal face. The girls thought I was crazy when I told them the stone felt warmer on this face but I was hoping I would feel a change if the portal opened. “I wish there was something more I could do,” said Sunset sadly. “It feels like this is my fault again.” I shot her a look. “Don’t say that Sunset. Your idea is the best shot we’ve got to contact Equestria.” She ignored me and stared at the blank pages of the book. “Princess Celestia probably threw her copy in a deep, dark hole so she’d never have to hear from me again.” “I doubt it Sunset,” I responded. “We have to hope for the best.” “Be as optimistic as you like Silver,” said Rainbow Dash from around the corner of the statue. “I’m starting to think she’s not coming.” All this time I had been leaning on the portal which radiated steadily with a warmth I was certain was the portal’s magic. As Dash spoke, the surface began to change. The heat surged, not painfully but it was enough to startle me. I pushed myself away from the portal and fell over because my legs had gone to sleep from sitting for so long. The girls all looked over at me and were about to comment when a pair of figures flew out of the portal and crashed onto the ground nearby with a grunt of pain. Spike and Twilight were sprawled on the concrete. “TWILIGHT!” the girls exclaimed, leaping to their feet. I was still trying to untangle myself and simply watched the reunion as I woke my body back up. Twilight Sparkle got up on her knees and rubbed her head sheepishly. She smiled unsteadily when she looked over at the girls. “I’m back.” Sunset reached down to offer Twilight some help back up with a smile on her face. Twilight went to take Sunset’s hand but hesitated with a frown on her face. There was a debate going on inside Twilights head and I saw Sunset’s smile start to fade. Then Twilight met Sunset’s eyes and took her hand. A small smile appeared on each of their faces as Sunset helped Twilight up onto her feet. I couldn’t help but stare at the two former ponies as they faced each other briefly. It was amazing how complete the change from the portal was. Sunset looked like she was trying to figure out what to say, but Twilight was quickly mobbed by the girls. While they exchanged hugs, I walked over to Sunset and gently nudged her with my shoulder. “I think you two will be ok once you talk Sunset. Have faith.” She smiled back at me nervously and nodded. I turned to face Twilight who had finally spotted me. Her eyes were wide as she took a hesitant towards me with a confused expression on her face. It occurred to me at that moment just how much I had changed in the past month and a half. I was wearing one of my usual tightly fitted shirts and the half open trench coat with slacks and combat boots. My formerly wild and unkempt shoulder-length hair was tidy and I was keeping my face clean shaven rather than covered in a scraggly five-o-clock shadow. Best of all, the dark circles under my eyes were long gone after nights of solid sleep. I smiled at her, remembering the last thing I had said to her. “It hasn’t been thirty moons yet but a promise made is still a promise kept. It’s good to see you again, Twilight.” She ran over a wrapped her arms around me in a huge hug which I reciprocated. I barely managed to stay calm as I held the person who had laid the groundwork for my recovery. The expected two and a half years of waiting had been reduced to a month and a bit instead. “Oh my goodness Silver!” she said into my shoulder. “I barely recognized you. How have you changed so much in such a short time!?” I looked down at the pink and blue hair with a small smile on my face. “Six friends who were determined to keep me from falling back into old habits and a promise to one other friend who I thought would be gone for a long, long time.” Twilight let go of me and looked at my face with a happy smile. “We will have to talk later. Right now I have bad news about those girls.” Pinkie bounced over and hooked Twilight’s arm. “Let’s talk about them on the way to the Sweet Shoppe!” Twilight nodded in agreement and the girls gathered around her to listen while I trailed along her. “A thousand years ago, there were three creatures . . .” I was distracted by a presence beside me and an arm hooked around mine. I looked over and found Sunset had tucked herself in beside me. “Hi? You ok Sunset?” She sighed sadly. “I just realized how hard this is going to be. With Twilight back you don’t really need a has-been unicorn helping out.” “Don’t be a silly pony Sunset,” I said, tapping her nose playfully with a finger on my other hand. “You’re a number of things, but a has-been is not one of them. I wouldn’t want to do without your help, ever.” She laughed a bit, thought it sounded bitter. She held me a bit tighter and I turned my attention back to Twilight’s story. “. . . maintain their power the Sirens had to feed on the negativity and distrust of others. The more of this negative energy they consumed, the stronger their voices became, and the farther they could spread their dark magic.” “If the sirens had their way, they would have divided and conquered all of Equestria. One of our greatest mages at the time, Star Swirl the Bearded stopped them. According to legend, he found a way to banish them to another world. It was one where he believed their magic power would be useless.” “So you think he sent them here.” I finished for her. Just like the Sakitan Dagger, Silver. That's true isn't it Spark. Feeling better? A bit yeah. Twilight nodded as we walked into the Sweet Shoppe. “I have no doubt that this is just the beginning.” We sat down at our usual couch and table in the corner. I dragged my chair over to the corner with my back to the wall so I could watch the room. Once we all had snacks, the girls started to catch up on things. I wanted to talk to Twilight but with everyone here, there was barely a chance for me to join the conversation. I simply sat back to listen. “I do hate that you had to return at a time of crisis,” Rarity gushed. “There's so much catching up to do!” Applejack's face took on a sly expression. “For starters, a certain blue-haired guitar player was just askin' about you.” I suppressed the urge to snarl at Flash Sentry being brought into the conversation. His behavior did make me incredibly angry but it wasn’t my place to interfere. Fortunately Twilight was the focus of the conversation so if my face betrayed my inner frustration, nobody noticed. I was really torn by her reaction. “Flash Sentry was asking about me?” she asked with confused excitement before calming down and taking a sip of her milkshake. “Isn't that nice?” Rarity looked quite curious as she continued. “Perhaps you would give us just the slightest bit of gossip from your world?” Spike looked incredibly proud when he spoke up from Fluttershy's lap. “She's got an official title now!” He imitated a trumpet fanfare. “The Princess of Friendship!” Twilight looked incredibly embarrassed by Spike's announcement. Sunset looked both proud and regretful at the announcement. “Wow, that's really impressive Twilight,” she said sadly. “Guess you really were Princess Celestia's prized pupil.” Sunset was sitting on the arm of the couch near me so I reached up and gave her hand a quick squeeze. She responded in kind and shot me a grateful smile. “She's even got her own castle!” Spike added. At the mention of the castle, I thought I saw a brief expression of grief on Twilight’s face. It was fleeting and the expression became a smile again a moment later. “A castle?!” Rarity exclaimed as she grabbed Twilight by her collar. “You have your own castle?!? Eh . . .” She had knocked some of Twilight's milkshake onto her shirt. Sheepishly, she pulled out a handkerchief and wiped it up. Twilight looked around at the group of us with an expression of curiosity. “So enough about me,” she said. “What's new here? I mean, besides your school becoming the target of dangerous magical creatures from Equestria?” Rainbow Dash pulled out her phone. “Yeah, so, that isn't exactly the only strange thing that's happened since you left,” she said turning it around to show Twilight a video of her gaining her half-pony form. “Pretty sweet, huh? It happens to all five of us when we play.” I was about to chime into the conversation to mention my ability to transform but stopped short when Twilight began speaking with growing enthusiasm as an idea took root. “My crown was returned to Equestria, but some of its magic must have remained here at Canterlot High,” she exclaimed. "Now that we're all back together, we can use that magic on the sirens. Just like when we were able to use it on Sunset Shimmer when she turned into that horrifyingly awful winged monster! No offense.” Twilight looked honestly sorry about her comment and Sunset's response was a resigned chuckle. “None taken. I'm used to it.” Everyone else was energized by the suggestion Twilight had just made and there was a burst of chatter about how they were going to take down the sirens without any trouble. I hated to be the bearer of bad news but there was one problem I could see. “Twilight, where is your crown?” I asked. “We had to give up the Elements of Harmony to protect Equestria,” she replied, looking at the floor. “That’s unfortunate. Do you think you’ll be able to use the magic without it?” She looked worried but determined. “I'm not sure Silver but we have to try something. The sooner we do this, the better. Any idea where the Dazzlings might be?” “There's a big party tonight for all the bands who signed up to be in the showcase!” said Pinkie in an excited voice. Twilight got up to her feet with a look of fresh determination on her face. “Looks like we've got a party to crash.” We all stood up to start the walk back to school for the party. As we gathered to leave, Rarity coughed to get everyone's attention. Once we were paying attention she looked over at me with a worried look on her face. “Silver, I think it would be best if you stayed outside when we go confront the Sirens.” Twilight was quick to jump in. “What! Why would we leave him behind?” “This morning, the Siren's music caused him to have a seizure,” Rarity replied. “I'd hate to see him hurt again so soon.” Twilight looked over at me with a worried expression on her face. She looked like she wanted to ask a million questions but I knew we didn't have time. I was incredibly frustrated by the situation. “You're probably right Rarity,” I replied. “It sucks but you're right. There’s a lot we need to talk about Twilight but it’ll have to wait until the Sirens are sorted out.” Twilight didn't look thrilled but she didn't argue. I fell behind while the seven of them marched off towards the school to break the siren’s spell. I did my best to knock the small burst of depression back down. Rarity was right of course; I would just be in the way if I collapsed from the Siren's magic again. That familiar feeling of uselessness started creeping around the edges of my mind and while I did my best to beat it back, it was still there. I was waiting on the front steps when the girls returned from trying to cast the counter-spell. The defeated looks on their faces told the whole story. I didn’t even ask how things had gone and just gave Twilight a reassuring smile as she walked down the stairs. Sunset sat down next to me and the rest of our friends settled down nearby. Twilight began pacing in front of the stairs but I thought I saw here shoot a look at Sunset and me before she started talking. “I wish we had been able to break their spell without the crown,” Twilight said with frustration. “I’m not sure what we’ll do now.” “The siren’s magic comes from their music,” Sunset muttered with a confident, thoughtful look on her face. “Maybe you have to use the same kind of magic to defeat them.” Sunset’s confidence deflated as quickly as it had appeared. “Or . . . maybe not.” Sunset looked worried but Twilight stopped pacing and suddenly got a hopeful expression on her face. “I think you’re on to something Sunset.” “Really?” said Sunset, her expression brightening. Twilight looked over at Applejack. “It’s when you play music that you transform now, right?” “Yep, except Silver here,” Applejack replied. “We get ears, tails, the whole shebang every time.” Twilight’s growing grin faltered at Applejack’s statement and she stared at me. “You have magic as well? How?” Let’s give her a small demo Spark. Will do bro. “I wish I knew Twilight,” I replied as Spark and I briefly formed a connection. She stared with wide eyes, as my wings briefly blurred into existence while my eyes, ears, and mouth adjusted. We released the connection quickly before anybody else noticed. “You can control it?” she whispered. “That easily?” I nodded silently while Rainbow Dash spoke up, “He’s pretty lucky to be able to use his magic on a whim. I wish I could fly like he can.” “How interesting,” she whispered. “You’re not a bearer of an element so something else must be going on. I wonder –“ I interrupted her before she could go off on a tangent. “Twilight, you had an idea about fighting against the Sirens, right?” “Gah, you’re right Silver,” she grumbled. “I was thinking there may be a way to defeat the sirens is by playing a musical counter-spell!” “Like a song?” asked Fluttershy. “Exactly!” Twilight exclaimed. “In order to free everyone who’s been exposed to the siren’s spell, we’ll need them all to hear it.” We all thought for a moment but it was Rarity who came up with the solution first again. “The band competition! That’s the next time we can be certain everyone will be in the same place at the same time.” “Guess the Rainbooms are the band to beat,” said Applejack. “I believe you, Twilight, just became the Rainbooms’ newest member,” Rarity declared. The other girls laughed and cheered. Sunset and I watched them celebrate with slight smiles. “Is there an instrument you can play in this form, Twilight?” I asked curiously. She shook her head. “Even if I did play one back home it would take too long to learn how to use my hands. I’ll just sing.” “Like, as in, lead singer?” asked Dash skeptically. “Cause that’s usually my gig. This being my band and all.” Applejack shot Dash a look of irritation. “It’s our band! Of course, she’s going to be the lead singer. She’s the one with the magical know-how to help us pull this thing off.” “It’s only temporary,” said Twilight reassuringly. “We don’t have to win the Battle of the Bands. We just have to perform during the first round of competition.” Rainbow Dash hopped up to her feet. “Well then, let’s go learn the musical counter-spell!” “Well, that’s just it. I don’t know any,” Twilight said. Everyone looked worried. “But I’m sure I could figure out how to write one!” “Totally!” Spike said confidently from where he was sitting. “Twilight can write a spell like it's nobody's business. That's pretty much how she got to become a princess in Equestria.” “There was a little more to it than that, Spike,” she said with a blush. “I’ve got this, C’mon, Spike!” She started walking away towards the school. Applejack was quick to stop her. “Where’re you goin’?” she asked. “Well, last time I was here I slept in the library one night and I didn’t want to impose on Silver again.” I was about to tell Twilight that my door was always opened but Pinkie popped up first and grabbed Twilight around the shoulders. “Are you crazy?! We’re besties now! Slumber party at my house!” The girls all cheered enthusiastically and immediately hustled Twilight off towards the parking lot. I lagged behind, feeling far less enthusiastic. The girls had hosted a few slumber parties since the fall formal to make up for lost time in their friendships. I was well aware the phrase ‘Slumber Party’ was just a polite way of saying ‘Girls Night’. I had no illusions about this one being any different even with Twilight here. I waved politely as they climbed into their cars and drove off to Pinkies house. After they left, I got in my own car and started the long drive back home. It was times like this I really did feel like the outsider of the group. It wasn’t my place to stop them or ask if I could join them for a while. They hadn’t ever spent a night with Twilight and rekindling their friendship was probably pretty important. It’s not like I was going to be able to contribute anyhow so it was probably for the best. That was the only reassurance I could muster to get through the rest of the evening. With that cold comfort accompanying me I settled into bed early to try and recover from the difficult day that had just finished. Before I could doze off, my phone buzzed. I rolled over to grab it and turned it on revealing a text message. Hey Silver. You doing ok? I'm managing ok Sunset. I’m actually settling into bed now. This early? It’s not even 8:00 yet. That’s not like you. I’m still not recovered from yesterday's incident. How’s the party? It’s ok but I’m kind of on the sidelines with Twilight here. I wish you were here. It's a nice thought but I doubt I’d fit in. Silver, you know that’s not true. It’s the unfortunate downside to the six of you being my only friends. At the end of the day, I’m the only boy in your group. That’s a fairly major strike against me joining you for things like slumber parties. That doesn't seem right to me, especially after everything you've done for us. I can talk to them about this if you’d like. No, please don’t. They don’t need a guilt trip right now. Ok, if you insist. Still, I miss you. Miss you too Sunset. Thanks for thinking of me. Sweet dreams. You too. Goodnight Silver. I put my phone down on my bedside table and closed my eyes. I felt slightly better but those dark thoughts were still hanging in the background. I pushed those thoughts away and closed my eyes. It only took a moment for me to drop off into a deep sleep.