//------------------------------// // Can You? // Story: Yet You Cannot Fly // by Jongoji245 //------------------------------// "Why couldn't you just leave me alone, Twilight Sparkle!" Juniper shouts before unleashing the power of the mirror. Like a magical vacuum, Sci-Twi is sucked into the mirror. Shocked and amazed at the mirror sucking up objects bigger than a full popcorn bag, Juniper stares at her reflection, which turns into a beautiful version of herself that blows a kiss at her real counterpart. "You get Twilight out right-" Before Applejack could finish, Juniper aims the mirror again and sucks her in as well. Just outside the theater, Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer, wanting to understand the World of Man, enter just in time to see Fluttershy getting sucked into the mirror. "Juniper!" She shouts, getting her attention and everyone else'. While Starlight hid in a corner, Sunset steps forward. "Why have you done that?!" "I don't have to say anything!" Juniper crosses her arms in a huff. "You don't have to." Sunset touches Juniper's bare wrist; "empathy" being her power from Camp Everfree, she views what happened since their mystery at the movie studio. With some effort, Canter Zoom was able to land her niece a job at the movie theater, but she is none too happy. What she really wanted was for people to like her and by being Daring Do would be just the trick. Sunset let's go of Juniper and turns her hands in a pleading manner. "I know you want people to like you. But trust me, the magic in that mirror is only gonna make things worse for you." "You're just saying that" - Seeing Rainbow Dash approach her, Juniper aims the mirror at her - "because you want the mirror for yourself." "What I want is my friends back. Please, Juniper." Sunset steps forward, relaxing her shoulders, "You got them into that mirror. Maybe there's a way you can wish them out." "Maybe..." Juniper looks at her reflection, who now is being shunned by the people who admire her like a goddess, "I don't want to!" Juniper aims the mirror at Sunset and claims another for her collection. But now with four magic gems, combined with Sunset's natural magic prowess, starts taking its toll on Juniper. With a toothy grin, the reflection seeps out of the mirror and absorbs into her real counterpart. Aside from growing two and a half times the height of the Rainbooms, her body is adorned in a feather dress of greens and purples, and her hair becomes snake-like curls. "Good gracious!" Rarity adds, placing her hands on her cheeks, "Not another monster!" Hearing that, Juniper turns around and sucks Rarity into the mirror. "No, worse!" Pinkie Pie gasps and starts running with Rainbow Dash, "She's a Monstar!" Starlight wastes no time and starts running with Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. Thanks to her colossal height, Juniper crashes through the overhead, drawing a sneer at the fleeing trio before seeing a mother with her overweight son. In her corrupted mind, she see's the boy stepping forward, pen and paper in hand. "Would you like me to sign your autograph?" She asks, bending forward to the child's level. The boy and his mother scream and run in terror. Juniper scoffs, saying, "It happens with the laity." Juniper continues her pursuit of the Rainbooms, moving as fast as her high heels and long dress can allow her. While everyone else continues to run out of the mall, Rainbow Dash notices the stranger running alongside her and Pinkie. "Who are you?" She asks in between breaths. "Oh, I'm your friend Starlight Glimmer." She looks back at the charging Juniper, "Well, in Equestria anyway." Starlight encounters a new object she's never seen in Equestria: an escalator. While she stares at the ascending flight of stairs, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were already halfway up when the athlete turns around. "Well, c'mon, Starlight!" She shouts, snapping Starlight into focus and barely dodges Juniper's clutches. The giant tries to follow, but her weight crushes the machine. Safe, until they find a way to free the others. Rainbow Dash looks down, seeing Juniper holding the cracked mirror. A veteran to these things, the athlete comes with a suggestion. "Well," Rainbow Dash motions Juniper with a wave of her arm, "You gonna come up or what?" With a deep growl, Juniper jumps up a foot before landing with an earthshaking thud. Frustrated, she stoops down and jumps again; not even one of her gloved talons touch the ledge. She growls again, stamping her foot. Knowing what's going on, Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes. "Oh, that is just rich!" Rainbow Dash slouches on the hand rail, frustrated. "What," Starlight looks at Rainbow Dash with a raised brow, "what's wrong?" "She's can't fly like the others." Rainbow Dash says indistinguishable, pointing at Juniper and still laughing like a loon. "Others?" Starlight asks with a raised brow. Those nearby the conversation slowly peep from their hiding holes. Most of them were there when Sunset became a She-Demon and she had wings. The Dazzlings develop fin-like wings and they can fly. Gloriosa essentially became an earth spirit, yet she can fly. The word that Juniper cannot fly gave them one bit of hope. "Too bad the Maximals aren't in this story." Pinkie Pie said casually. "The who?" Asked Starlight before pushing the teen out of the way from a colliding podium. Seeing the damage it's done to the cafe, Starlight and Rainbow crawl to the ledge. With enhanced size comes enhanced strength, and so Juniper dragged another stand dropping cheap remote controlled toys. "I can't fly," Juniper starts to spin, getting the stand off the ground with momentum, "but this can!" After three more swings, Juniper tosses the stand at the second floor. At such a force, the ledge collapses under their feet, sending Starlight, Pinkie, and Rainbow Dash falling down one floor. The Unicorn in apes clothing manages to crawl away and hide before the giant got too close. Rainbow Dash was able to pull Pinkie out of the rubble just when Juniper sucks her into the mirror. Before Rainbow can activate her charm, she too is sucked into the mirror. Rid of the people who ruined everything for her, Juniper laughed in triumph. She notices some of the hiding mall shoppers and blows them a kiss. When she turns to another frightened crowd in front of several television screens displaying a music video featuring the Rainbooms and some of the Shadowbolts, dancing, and singing in rhythm. Already in the spotlight before they were brought into the movie studio, Juniper grabs a chair and throws it at the store. But it's not the only spot in the mall where the music video is played or heard, and it's driving the ex-gofer mad. This presents Starlight with an opportunity. While Juniper screamed at the ceiling radio, Starlight sneaks up to the tall lady and grabs the handle. But she is caught before she could flee and is lifted up and brought to eye level. Unable to use magic, and is just mastering her hands, Starlight swings back and forth and kicks Juniper in the wrist. Mirror in hand, the teen runs for dear and hides behind an ice cream stand. It's up to her now to save the day for the third time... all while in a game of cat and mouse.