//------------------------------// // Flying Sparks // Story: My Little Mages: Goddess of Midnight // by Foxhelm //------------------------------// As the Rainbolts cleaned up after the party, Rarity walked up to Sci-Twi, “So the sun sets in your heart, Darling?” she teased. Sci-Twi dropped the broom she had in her hands in a panic, like someone that was caught in an embarrassing situation. Before she could say anything, Rarity placed her right index finger on her lips, “Shs, Darling, I am here to help you.” Sci-Twi blinked twice as Rarity removed her finger. “I can see it all now, soft orange candle light under the open starry sky.” Rarity then ‘woohed’, “Meet me in the library two hours after we finish cleaning.” Rarity then left the embarrassed Sci-Twi. As Sci-Twi fumbled to pick up the broom, “Ya alright, Sugarcube?” Applejack asked as she walked to her. Sci-Twi could only look at the ground. “Rarity means well, but once she gets it into her head about somethin’ romantic, yah can either play along or yah show her up.” The paladin then laughed, “Ask her about Trenderfoot’s crush on Applejewel or Farmerity, it’s a hoot.” Applejack then had a laugh as she remembered that event. Sci-Twi only gave a nervous laugh. Applejack then went solemn. “Listen, wah all figured out yah not the friend wah mistook yah for.” Sci-Twi looked down to the ground with a miserable expression. Applejack saw that and placed her hand on Sci-Twi’s shoulder. “Now don’t you cry or fret.” Sci-Twi turned to face the paladin. “Wah all still want to get to know yah.” Sci-Twi smiled for a second, but then looked down, “But I don’t even know who I am or what I am.” Applejack tapped on Sci-Twi’s wings, which caused Sci-Twi to gasp, “Yah see these wings?” Sci-Twi nodded. “These wings mean yah’re a demigod. Ah only know of four other humans with wings like them. The princesses of the Everfree Principality of Mystica in Dream Valley, Celestia, Luna, Mi Amore Cadenza, and Twilight Sparkle.”  Applejack paused. “Yah know, it’s gonna get confusin’ when talkin’ about you and Twilight in the same sentence.” Applejack then had a nervous laugh. “Well, we’ll figure something out, hopefully something better than nick-naming yah Sci-Twi.” “Sci-Twi?” “The ‘Sci’ is short for science and ‘Twi’ is short for... well ‘Twilight’.” Applejack then gave another nervous laugh. “It’s kind of stupid. But since, yah’re the only ‘Twilight’ Ah talkin’ tah and about. We’ll just keep it Twilight.” Sci-Twi thought about what she was told. “Sci-Twi…” she muttered. Sci-Twi turned to Applejack, “I can see why it’s shortened like that, but why ‘Sci’?” she asked as she straighten her glasses. Applejack had a chuckle, “Pinkie had a look at yah, and yah strike her as thah type of people intah science.” “Any particular science, because there are many different types of sciences. Was she referring to the natural sciences, such as but not limited to physics, biology, chemistry, ecology…” she was rendered silent by the paladin placing her hand on her mouth. “Eeyup, Pinkie had yah pegged correctly.” Applejack then removed her hand. “Listen, Sci-Twi. If something is botherin’ yah, yah can talk tah any of us.” Sci-Twi looked away from Applejack and saw Pinkie pull out of one of her pockets, a big vacuum cleaner with a big child-like smile. She pressed a button on it and the vacuum cleaned up the whole mess with one sweep. Pinkie then whipped her forehead with a "Phee-yew!" and put in back into her pocket. Sci-Twi turned back to Applejack, who watching the reactions of the Shadowbolts, “Don’t ask. Yah’ll never fathom the answer.” Applejack then turned back to Sci-Twi. “So what’s eattin’ yah?” Sci-Twi sighed as she looked down, “I still don’t know who I am or where I am from or anything.” Applejack placed her hand on Sci-Twi’s shoulder, “Ah old man once told mah, ‘The past is history, the future a mystery, but today, today is a gift. That’s why we call it ‘present’.’ So don’t worry your head on what you can’t control.” Sci-Twi wanted to question the paladin farther. “Honestly, Ah might not know the ‘who’ yah think yah were in the past either, but Ah sincerely believe Ah can speak for mahself and mahy friends, wah do want to know who yah’re now.” Sci-Twi looked at the paladin with small tears of joy in her eyes, “really?” she asked, this was too good to be true. Applejack chuckled, “Why would Ah lie tah yah?” she asked with a chuckle. “Now why don't wah go and see what Rares wants with yah?” Applejack then took Sci-Twi’s hand and went to find the enchantress. Unbeknownst to Applejack, an orange light formed around her heart and followed the path of her arm and Sci-Twi’s arm into Sci-Twi’s chest, where it was absorbed into her chest. Rarity saw the two coming towards her. She turned to Sunset, “Do you have a black dress?” Sunset squinted her left eye, slightly confused as to why Rarity would ask that question, “Yeah, I might have been a… well, bitch to Flash, but I did make a show of us being a couple.” Rarity beamed and clapped her hands, “Excellent!” Rarity then started to leave Sunset, “Meet us on the ramparts shortly after sunset, and make sure to wear that dress.” Sunset was left perplexed at that but elected to not question it farther. A few hours later, Sunset was not sure why Rarity was so insistent on this meeting in the early evening nor why Rarity kept pressuring her into wearing the simple black dress she was currently wearing, but Sunset elected to just roll with it. As she reached the spot along the wall where Rarity told her to meet her, Sunset saw a small table on it was a white cloth, two lit candles, two plates, two sets of cutlery, etc. Next to the table were two chairs and seated in one of them was Sci-Twi, who was also in a small black dress and on her face was a fair amount of makeup. “Twilight, what’s with the…” She stopped herself. “I thought it was a little much, but Rarity insisted.” Sci-Twi replied. Sunset shook her head with a smile on her face and closed eyes. “Rarity means well, but sometimes makeup just gets in the way.” Sunset sat down on the chair across from Sci-Twi and took her napkin, “Let me take care of that.” She then licked the napkin and started to wipe away the makeup on Sci-Twi’s face. As Sunset was removing the makeup, Applejack and Rainbow Dash, who watching from a corner in the wall turned to Rarity. “Ah told yah, the makeup was too much.” Applejack informed. Rarity chuckled, “All part of the plan, darling. Now, you and Rainbow bring them their meal.” Rainbow looked at what was to be served, “Spaghetti and Meatballs on a large plate? Seriously?” the elementalist asked. Rarity looked back at Rainbow, “What?” she somewhat whined as everyone else groaned, “It’s classic.” Rarity stood next to Fluttershy, “Picture it, Darlings.” Fluttershy whimpered as she tried to step away from the enchantress, “I’d rather not.” Rarity brushed it off and continued, she walked up to Pinkie and started to describe the vision in her mind, As she spoke she looked in the eyes of a clearly uncomfortable Pinkie Pie, “The two are eating and they end up eating the same noodle. As the eat their faces come closer and closer...” as Rarity spoke she moved her face closer and closer to Pinkie’s. Before anyone could respond, Applejack took Rarity by the shoulder and pulled her away from Pinkie, “Stop. Stop. Stop.” she scolded the fashionista, “This ain’t a fairytale. Sunset is not going to mount a white horse and carry Sci-Twi off into the sunset, not so soon. They ain’t gonna kiss, and there won’t be fireworks.” Rarity looked at Applejack, “How can you be so sure?” she asked the paladin taken aback. Applejack sighed, “Because it ain’t reality. Yah want an example of reality, mah folks, Pear Butter and Bright Mac.” “Wait, I thought your mother’s name was Buttercup.” Pinkie pointed out the difference between the name Applejack just gave for Applejack’s mother and the one she knew about. Applejack chuckled as she thought back before she answered, “Buttercup was a nickname my pa gave her because when she held the bud of a buttercup to her chin, her chin glowed. As to why no one corrected Big Mac and Mah for so long, well there was a feud between Granny Smith and the head of the Pears, Grand Pear. But can Ah get back tah the story?” Everyone nodded silently, “My ma and pa spent years meeting each other, often in public places and few secluded places. They had to go behind my grandfolks back then. They had to get to know each other, etc. before my ma told my pa she loved him.” Rainbow Dash cleared her throat and the four others turned to her. She pointed in the direction of Sunset and Sci-Twi, “Yeah, Sunset finished cleaning the makeup off.” she pointed out matter-of-factually. Rarity gasped as she levitated the platter with the spaghetti to Rainbow and to Applejack a bottle of red wine, “Quick, serve them.” she ordered and the elementalist and paladin. Rainbow groaned as Applejack shook her head before they both went over to the table Sunset and Sci-Twi. At the table, Sunset placed her napkin aside, “There done.” she said as she looked at Sci-Twi. The glasses wearing girl blushed as she noticed Sunset looked at her. As she noted the orange light of the setting sun contrast with Sci-Twi’s hair, Sunset could not help but recall that moment when she was in Twilight’s chambers during the clash with the Sirens. She wanted to chuckle but could not help but frown as she recalled the envelope that Cinch showed her. Sunset was not sure how she should feel or if what possible feelings stirring in her chest were for Sci-Twi. She wasn’t sure what Sci-Twi felt or w… Sunset froze as she recalled all the names and entries, among them was her ex, Flash. Was it possible… no, DNA doesn’t work like that. Just before Sunset could speak, Rainbow placed the large platter of spaghetti in the center of the table, “Dinner is served.” Applejack said as she pour wine into the goblets that were for the two to drink. In awkward silence, Rainbow and Applejack left the two. After a few seconds, Sunset and Sci-Twi looked away from each other awkwardly. They each place forked opposite sides of the spaghetti and began to eat it. Little knowing that they each got opposite ends of one of the noodles. As they ate, they didn’t really focus on each other until they turned as they ate the noodle and ended up facing each other. They both stopped and looked into each other’s eyes. Sci-Twi noticed handful of things in Sunset’s.  The first was how the recently showing stars glittered in them. Second was a fiery passion, one that once burnt the soul of the person whose passion it was, but while the heat it gave off was still there, it was much more focused. But for some reason she wanted that passion to consume her, she wanted that passion to mark her, to be the fire that kept her warm during the coldest of nights. She could not help but smile and blush. Sunset, on the other hand, saw a mind that looked at the world in awe, a mind that wanted to know how everything worked, a kind and innocent soul that… she wanted to be the firewall for. After a good minute, the two realized that they were lost in each others’ eyes and were eating the same noodle.  They both pulled back, breaking the noodle and the hold they had on each other in the process. They finished the noodle and swallowed. The two then had a nervous laugh, turned from each other, and continued to eat, stealing glances at each other. This was witnessed by the five mutual friends. Applejack looked at Rarity, “See, Rares.  No kiss. No fireworks. Ah told yah it wasn’t going to work,” the paladin pointed out. Rarity only huffed in response. Applejack turned to the other three, “Alright, now with that done, wah can actually do somethin’ about Sci-Twi makin’ friends and if wah are gonna help this relationship,” she said as she pointed to Sci-Twi and Sunset, “then let’s do somethin’ beyond dollin’ either of them up.” Back at the table, “So does this make me the tramp, because I am far from a lady.” Sunset joked which caused Sci-Twi, as she was drinking the wine spat it out and started to laugh and cough. Sunset chuckled, “I am surprised you got the reference.” Once Sci-Twi collected herself, “I read a novelization of that film.” Sunset chuckled a little at that comment. “What?” Sunset shook her head as she stopped her laugh. She brought her left hand placed it and took Sci-Twi’s chin and cheek, “Do you know who are sexiest people in the world?”. Sci-Twi was about answer when Sunset placed her index finger on her lips. “Bibliophiles.” Sci-Twi was confused at the answer and was about to question it, but Sunset continued, “They always go to bed with good company.” Sunset then removed her hand as Sci-Twi blushed. Back among the other five, Rarity turned to Applejack with the most smug of grins on her face, “No fireworks, huh?” she asked rhetorically. Applejack rolled her eyes at Rarity at first before she spoke, matter-of-factly, as she turned back to witness Sunset and Sci-Twi. “They’re not kissing… yet.” Applejack then turned back to the rest “We better get ready to clean up after this.” About fifteen minutes later, the two dining finished their meals and started off, “Well, I had a nice time. Maybe tomorrow night we'll catch a film.”  Sunset said as she and Sci-Twi started to walk from the scene. Sci-Twi smiled and hugged Sunset. After the hug, “Wait here for a moment.” Sci-Twi said as she dash back and came upon Rarity et al cleaning up after the diner. She hugged Rarity. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” she said. She broke the hug. “I owe you…” Before Sci-Twi could finished, Rarity put her right index finger on Sci-Twi’s lips. “Darling, you don’t owe me a thing.” Rarity ended the embrace and pointed in the direction of Sunset, “But to not squander my generosity and follow your heart.” She stepped behind Sci-Twi and whispered, “Go, tell her how you feel, let your heart be known to her. Cross the Rubicon, cast the die and seize the day!”  Sci-Twi turned to face Rarity and was about ask, but Rarity turned her around and gave Sci-Twi a slight push. “I’m not a smith, but I know the time to strike the iron is when it is still hot.” Sci-Twi paused for a second before she ran towards Sunset. “Looks like the girl’s not shy.” Rarity commented. Unbeknownst to everyone, a white light-like orb formed around Rarity’s chest and flew into Sci-Twi’s back. Sci-Twi did feel the absorption but wrote it off as her heart racing as she was walking and talking to Sunset. From the shadows, Cinch witnessed everything. “Blast that infernal Shimmer.” she muttered. But then paused and thought in silence. “Perhaps I’m being too hasty. It might be more prudent to let this play out.” She smiled and slipped back into the shadows. The next morning, with in the dining hall of Midnight Castle, the Rainbooms were eating their breakfast. “Well, did anyone’s aura mark do their glowy mission complete thing.” Rainbow asked. The four others only shook their heads. “Oh come on!” Rainbow groaned, “What do we have to do? What problem do we need to solve?” She lowered her head to the table with a thump. “You  would think we have solved it by now.” Applejack rolled her eyes before she spoke, “Now Sugarcube, what did yah expect? Our presence alone will solve the problem?” Rainbow’s nervous laugh answered the paladin’s question which earned an eye roll from the paladin. “The point is that we’re the only ones to solve this problem, the how is always up in the air.” Just then Sunset sat down with the Rainbooms, her hair was extremely disheveled and a smile on her face. Pinkie looked at Sunset, “Reminds me of how you looked after the first gala we all went to.” She turned back to Rainbow and asked, “Remember it Dashie?” Rainbow Dash groaned in response before slamming her head on the table again. Pinkie had a giggle. The jester then turned to face Sunset again, “So what happened?” Sunset smiled, “We read a great book last night.” Rarity looked on with star filled eyes. “A ‘Daring Do’ book, which brought a pout to Rarity’s face. Rainbow looked up, “Which one?” Sunset only winked with her right eye in response. Applejack then got up, “Ah don’t need to know anymore. It’s none of mah business.” and the paladin then started to walk away. “Ah need to practice mah swordsmanship anyway.” Rainbow then got up, “Well I need to stay sharp with my archery and maybe pick up a close quarter weapon.” and she followed Applejack in the direction of the barracks. The rest only shrugged as they continued their meal for the most part. However, Pinkie looked around, “Hey where’s Sci-Twi?” the jester asked Sunset. Sunset looked from her meal back to the jester, she put her fork down and stopped eating for a second, “She went to the library.” “Typical.” Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie said together in unison. A couple hours later, Sci-Twi was in the library reading a book. She finished it and set it aside next to a collection of stacks of other books she had read. She sighed and looked to the ceiling, “Still nothing useful.” “Ms. Sparkle.” came Cinch’s voice behind the demigoddess. Sci-Twi turned to face the baroness, “Um. yes, baroness?” she asked as she got up from the chair she sat in. Cinch placed her hand on Sci-Twi’s shoulder, “I think I found out about what happened before we placed you in that medical bath.” Cinch stopped and looked around for a second before she continued as she started to leave the library, “Would you be so kind to follow me to my office, this is something that is best discussed behind closed doors.” Cinch didn’t need to turn and see that Sci-Twi elected to follow her. Cinch smiled to herself as the two left. About half an hour later in Cinch’s office, Cinch took a folder out of her desk and presented it to Sci-Twi. “One of my spies in Mystica returned with this recently.”  The folder was titled ‘Operation: Midnight.’ Sci-Twi cautiously reach out and took it. Timidly she opened it, and she slowly read it in silence. On each of the pages in the folder were brief entries on various people, some Sci-Twi knew  Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Lemon Zest, Indigo Zap, Sunny Flare, Sour Sweet, Sugarcoat, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Sunset Shimmer, Then there entries on people Sci-Twi didn’t know. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Discord, Tirek, Adagio Dazzle, Aria Blaze, Sonata Dusk, Flash Sentry, and the one that shocked her the most, Princess Twilight Sparkle, “What, why, how,” Sci-Twi asked as she looked at her doppelganger. “Why are…” Sci-Twi started to ask before she reached the last page which was about her, “I’m a…” she dropped the folder and shivered in shock before she dropped to her knees. Cinch placed her hand on Sci-Twi, “It seems that Princess Celestia thought to farther the number of demigods that resided in Mystica, and used the DNA of herself, her sister, and the rest to make another demigod, or perhaps something even more powerful.” Cinch then helped Sci-Twi to her feet and embraced her, not unlike a mother. Sci-Twi wrapped her arms around Cinch, “But how did I end up here?” Cinch patted the girl on her head, “It seems that from Princess Celestia’s point of view, you were a failed project, and she discarded you in the trash.” Sci-Twi broke the hold and looked at the baroness, “Do…” she started ask. Cinch pulled out from her desk another piece of paper and handed it to Sci-Twi. Sci-Twi read it, “They’re here to… Even Sun… but last night…” she dropped the paper and ran out of the office sobbing on her way. Cinch took the paper up and smiled with a soft chuckle. Sci-Twi cried all the way as she ran to the ramparts. There she continued to weep, oblivious to the arrival the Shadowbolts, Sour Sweet was the first to speak as she hugged Sci-Twi. “You poor thing.” Sour’s tone was sanguinely sad. “Lied to by the closest people to you.” “Not to undermine you, Sour, but we also knew what she is.” Sugarcoat pointed out. Sour broke her hug as she growled at the truenamer. Sci-Twi looked at the Shadowbolts, “You also…” Sci-Twi started but she couldn't finish the question and wiped a few tears away from her eyes. Indigo placed her hand on Sci-Twi shoulder, “Yeah, we were the spies that Cinch had. You see we’re all half-sisters and our father was a Mystican.” Sci-Twi took a second to look at each of the Shadowbolts, “Even that they are here to… Correct me?” The five looked at each other utterly confused, “I think that question was misplaced, or rather mis-timed.” Sugarcoat pointed out. Lemon took off her headset and tilted her head to the left in confusion, “But why would Pinkie correct anyone, she’s awesomely carefree.” Sci-Twi shook her head as she stepped away from Sour, “I don’t mean like she pointed out an error I made. I am the error.” Sunny walked up to Sci-Twi, “Why would you think that, dearie?” the cleric asked as she placed both her hands on both of Sci-Twi’s shoulders. Sci-Twi looked away from her, “Because I am botched copy of others,” She raised her head and looked each of the Shadowbolts in turn, “even your, all five of your, DNA and RNA was a part in making me.” She started to cry, “So this is why I have no memories from before I woke,” she broke from Sunny’s hold and looked out over the ramparts, “They knew I was a… clone and given how similar I look to Princess Twilight Sparkle… I must be a clone of her.” Tears slowly dripped down her cheeks, “I even have her name.”  She wiped her tears with the sleeve of her shirt, “And they knew it.” She paused as she looked in the direction of the sun, “Sunset knew it…” Sci-Twi trailed off as she thought about last night, the romantic diner, the reading together… “Am I just a substitute?” Sunny stepped next to her and placed her right hand on Sci-Twi’s shoulder. Sci-Twi turned to face Sunny, “You’ll have to ask them.” The Rainbooms were watching Applejack and Rainbow Dash wrestle each other. The paladin had managed to pin the elementalist to the ground on her chest, with her right knee in Rainbow’s back and held her right arm back, and was close to dislocating the elementalist’s shoulder, “Give up Sugarcube, yah can’t win and Ah don’t wanna hurt yah anymore.” “A Wonderbolt never surrenders!” Rainbow declared in deficiencies. Applejack shrugged her shoulders and began to pull on Rainbow’s arm, slowly twisting it, making sure Rainbow felt everything, “Stop! Stop!” Rainbow pleaded as tears started to form in her eyes. “Say it.” Applejack ordered as she released some of her hold. “I surrender!” Rainbow shouted and Applejack relinquished her hold before she got off of Rainbow Dash. Rainbow grumbled as she brushed herself off, “How did I lose?” she grumbled. “Do you want the play by play or the underlying cause?” Rarity asked. As Pinkie pulled a slide show projector with slides and a white screen to show the slides on, “The underlying cause.” Rainbow answered. Pinkie pouted and put everything back into her hair. Rarity cleared her throat, “Your ego, darling.” was all the enchantress needed to say. “Oh come on! Applejack got as big of a pride issue as me!” Fluttershy was the one that spoke up next, “Yes, but Applejack has historically been able to back up her claims and most of her problems is because she’s stubborn.” Applejack groaned slightly at that, but had to concede the point. Just then Sci-Twi and the Shadowbolts arrived. “Hey, Twilight, girls. How are you?” Fluttershy asked before she noted a subtle darkness around Sci-Twi. “Is something wrong?” Sci-Twi scowled at the six, “You all knew I am a clone of your friend.” she declared without missing a beat. The six were taken aback and looked towards the ground in shame. “And you acted like I was your friend.” She then focused her gaze on Sunset, “That … you…” she couldn’t finish the sentence as she start to tear up and choke on her pain. After a second, she continued, “And you came to clean up after Princess Celestia’s mistake. So was that your plan? To lull me into trusting you and then kill me?” Everyone was taken aback at that statement, “Now hold on there, Sugarcube!” Applejack stepped forward a slight scowl of her own on her face as she confronted Sci-Twi.  “What fertilizer have you been smellin’ to have that idea?” Applejack asked which earned a bit of a snicker from Pinkie and Lemon. Sci-Twi was taken aback and “But you knew I am a…” “So what?” Applejack cut her off. “It doesn’t matter what yah are tah us. Seriously take a good look at each of us.” Applejack walked to be right next to Sci-Twi and pointed at Pinkie Pie, “We’ve got a pink plaid party planner from a long line of rock farmers,” Applejack then pointed to Fluttershy, “A Skyborn so more comfortable on the ground that she’s a druid,”  Applejack then pointed to Rarity, “Yeah might think Rares is from a posh family, but nope, her folks are about as country as mah,” Applejack then turned Sci-Twi’s attention to Rainbow, “Okay she’s more of what yah might expect from a Skyborn, but she’s loyal tah the rest of us to a fault.” Applejack then stepped in front of Sci-Twi and put her right hand on her own chest, “And look at mah, do ah look like what you’d expect a paladin? On top of that, Ah pretty much run mah family farm.” Applejack then put both of her hands on Sci-Twi’s shoulders, “But that’s what we are, not who we are.” Applejack took a step back, “You see all that really matter is not what we are and by extension the same is true for you.” Sci-Twi took a step back, “Even if that’s tru…” Fluttershy took a very loud breath, which caused Sci-Twi to stop, “Zona Vero!” the druid said as she closed her eyes and opened them revealing them to glow pink, matching her hair. From her eyes, a pink bubble grew and encompassed every one. Once the bubble was done growing, “Okay Applejack.” The druid smiled at the paladin. Applejack shook her head and sighed, “Really?  Yah felt the need to resort to cast a zone of truth?” She sighed again, “Wah don’t really care about what you are, Sugarcube. Wah just want to get to know who you are. Yah got that.” Sci-Twi was taken aback. What Applejack said was true, as she knew that she that they didn’t care so much what she was. But if they didn’t care, “Then why are you here?” “Frankly, wah don’t know why wah were called here.” Applejack answered. Sci-Twi dropped to her knees, “So you’re not here to… kill me,” As the revelation was beginning to sink in, what Applejack said shock her, “but Cinch showed me…” Sci-Twi started but looked down on the ground unable to fathom what was going on. Or how to make sense about the two stories she was told. “What is going on here?” came the voice of Cinch from above the lot. Everyone turned to face the baroness.No one answered at first as she walked towards them, entering the field of zone of truth’s effect. “What do you think you are doing?” Applejack stepped away from Sci-Twi and towards the baroness, “Ah reckon wah should be askin’ yah the same question, Salt lick.” Cinch raised an eyebrow, “If that was insult, I doubt that it follows.” Cinch then looked away from the paladin to the rest, “My question remains unanswered.” Everyone was silent for a second before Sci-Twi bot to her feet, “Did you lie to me about Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy coming here to kill me?” Sci-Twi asked as she took a step forward. “I’ve said nothing of the sort.” Cinch declared. Applejack snorted, “That’s a….” and Applejack’s voice went silent which shocked everyone. “Zone of Truth, only what is true can be spoken, anything that is not true, no matter how sincere the person speaking is, will not be heard.” Sugarcoat pointed out. “Wait?” Rarity asked as she turned from the muted Applejack to Sugarcoat and the rest of the Shadowbolt, “You mean to tell us that Cinch didn’t tell Twilight that we’ve came her to kill her.” Sugarcoat only nodded in silence. Rarity then turned to face Cinch then to Sci-Twi “But why did Twilight come to that conclusion?” Sci-Twi then recalled, “She showed me a document, it had Princess Celestia’s name on it and was an order to…” “That doesn’t sound like Princess Celestia at all.” Fluttershy cut in,  “Granted Princess Luna might have some argument against that being banished to the moon for a thousand years, but ordering someone’s death?” Applejack then gave an annoyed chuckle as everyone turned to her. Once she finished she scowled at Cinch, “So yah didn’t tell her, but showed her a piece of paper stating it.” she gave another disheartening chuckle, “I bet a thousand bits that you forged Princess Celestia’s signature.” Cinch didn’t answer the paladin’s accusation at first. As this was going on, more and more the people whose residence was in the castle of Midnight Castle, including the castle’s retinue and the Mystican ESM support garrison, began to arrive on the scene to witness what was going on. Not unlike people drawn to watch two trains going in opposite directions on the same track heading towards each other. They knew a major collision and disaster was about to happen, but they could not help but watch it all unfold. Cinch remained silence. She knew that if she spoke the truth everything could come unraveled, if she lied they would know it. However, one doesn’t last long a politician without knowing how to use words. “That is a very bold claim to make, Applejack was it, and what proof do you have to support it?” Applejack groaned, “Ah just said, ‘I bet a thousand bits that you’d forge Princess Celestia’s signature.’” Cinch gave a slight chuckle, “That only proved that you are willing to surrender a thousand bits to who ever takes that bet should you be proven wrong and accept a thousand bits if you are proved right.” Unbeknownst to everyone small orbs of lights was forming in the front of the chests of everyone, sans Sci-Twi, “Oh no, not again.” Sci-Twi whispered. Just as she finished all the lights shot towards Sci-Twi. This part didn’t go unnoticed by everyone and they all turned to follow the lights as they were absorbed into Sci-Twi. “No.” Cinch muttered, barely audible as everyone watched Sci-Twi glow for a second before what seemed to be a dome of purple light expanded from Sci-Twi’s heart not unlike Fluttershy’s Zone of Truth, but unlike the dome from the Zone of Truth, it felt much more solid for a second before it exploded forcing everyone back and onto their rears and backs. Everyone grunted and groaned as they got back to their feet. Their clothes had sustained a good deal of damage, and they all ended up with scrapes and bruises from the explosion.  Furthermore, to say that the barracks were in total disarray would have been the understatement of the year. “WHAT IN FAUST AND ZACHERLE’S NAMES JUST HAPPENED?!” Sunset shouted, surveying the damage in shock and horror, and the first to get anything resembling her bearings. After a couple more seconds, as everything seemed to settle down, everyone turned towards Sci-Twi as she too slowly got back to her feet. She looked at a everyone  with her focus mostly on Sunset. “I'm sorry!” she said as she looked at the angry pyromancer. “I don’t why,” Sci-Twi started to explain and looked down at the floor ashamed of herself, “but I’ve been absorbing energy ever since you all arrived.” as she said ‘you all’ she raised her head and looked towards Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie. “And you didn’t bother to tell us!” Sunset shouted at the girl as she stepped in front of the others. Sci-Twi took a step back and looked down at the ground, “I don’t know how it happened…” she started to answer. Sunset’s eyes shot wide open at that statement and took a step towards Sci-Twi, and pointed at the girl. “What do you mean you don't know how?!” Sci-Twi teared up and looked around her before she tried to answer, “I just found out what I....” “Is there anything you do know?!” Sunset asked as her ire began to boil over as she cut the girl short. “I...I…” Sci-Twi stuttered as she tried to answer, but had nothing to say anymore. Sunset growled as she grabbed Sci-Twi by her shoulders, “You're supposed to be so smart!” she then released the demigod and threw her hands into the air, “You’ve read like two-thirds of all the books in the library in the last two days, but did you ever think to let us know what was going on?!” She let go of Sci-Twi and was and sent a blast of fire at the stone ground. “Because clearly you don't understand what’s going on!!” she shouted, scolding Sci-Twi. “But I wanna under…” Sci-Twi started. Sunset cut the girl off there, “But you don't!” she shouted and thrust her right index finger into the girl’s chest, “Furthermore, if you had told someone, we could have figured something out together before anything happened!” she wave her hands towards the scene and the amount of damage done to the walls and the various near hits, “And worst of all, you put the lives of my friends and everyone else here in danger!” with her calling Sci-Twi’s attention to everyone else there. Sci-Twi looked down towards the ground, she tried to speak but her voice started to break, “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.” Sci-Twi then turned and started to sob as she ran away, tears rolling down her cheeks. All the while, a small dark purple light was starting to form in Sci-Twi’s chest unbeknownst to almost everyone. As Sci-Twi ran off, Sunset hung her head in shame and sighed as the others looked at her with slight disappointment over her reaction. She then raised her head, and without looking at the others, not needing to see their faces to know how they were looking at her, ran after Sci-Twi. “SCI-TWI! TWILIGHT! WAIT!” she shouted. Sci-Twi stopped, the tears flowing down her eyes, her nose running with mucus. Before Sunset could reach her or speak, Sci-Twi cried out, “Why? Why won’t you let me understand?” She closed her eyes and turned away. “I thought you would help me understand what’s going on with me. I thought you knew the most about me. I thought you knew how I felt about you. I thought you...you…” At that moment that dark purple light grew exponentially, from Sci-Twi’s chest in all directions. In a panic she reached out to Sunset, “Heeeeeeeeeelllllllp... meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Uhh! Ahh!” She screamed as her body was engulfed by the expanding light. Sunset could only watch on in horror.