//------------------------------// // Sticking around // Story: The Issue of Multiple Sunsets // by Hopeful_Ink_Hoof //------------------------------// Trixie, stage magician Sunset Shimmer, Daydream Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, and Sonata Dusk all stared at the silhouetted figure standing on top of the theater's roof. The figure then leaped from said roof, doing a forward flip before landing, dropping onto one knee and pressing one palm against the stage floor, the other extended backwards. Up close, it was easier to make out that the figure was indeed female. She was dressed in a dark red, skin-tight jumpsuit, with a cowl that was open on top to reveal her red and gold colored hair. This got a shout from Sonata, who clapped as fast as her hands could manage. As she stood up, a large, golden spider insignia became visible on her chest and stomach, its limbs extending around her own. She turned to face Trixie, the reflective golden lenses somehow growing smaller as though her gaze was narrowing. "I don't know what your plan is," the masked superhero stated, "but it won't work." "My plan," Trixie snapped, "was to show up this upstart wanna-be!" She pointed a finger at magician Sunset. "And it would have worked if you hadn't interrupted and shot my dart with your..." She turned to look at where the dart had gone, trying to figure out what had knocked it out of the air. It looked like... "...webbing?" "Who are you supposed to be, anyways?" Sonata asked. The masked Sunset Shimmer turned to face Sonata. She then straightened up, placing her hands on her hips. "I am... The Golden Spider!" she announced. Sonata burst into laughter, falling to the ground as she did. "What's so funny? Why are you laughing?" Daydream Shimmer cleared her throat, taking a step forward. "Listen," she said softly. "I understand everything can be confusing right now, bu--" The rest of her statement was lost as Golden Spider shot out an arm, firing her webbing at Daydream's mouth. It was quickly followed up by several more shots, pinning Daydream to the ground as her feet were covered to the ankles, and around her body, trapping her arms against her side. "No confusion," Golden Spider assured, returning her attention to Trixie. Her "eyes" again narrowed and her voice took on a harder edge. "This isn't the first time, you've tried something like this, after all." Trixie gulped as her mouth suddenly went dry. She took a step back, holding her hands up and fingers wide to show they were empty. "Now listen," she said in her firmest and most professional tone. "I don't know what you think is going on, but you've got it all wrong." A smirk tugged at the edges of Golden Spider's mouth as she shifted, body tensing. "You're acting's gotten better," she stated, "but if you think you can fool me with that trick again, you're about to be sore-ly mistaken." She then leaped into the air, launching herself at Trixie. Only to be caught by a glowing rose-colored energy, stopping her mid-jump. Twilight Sparkle stood not far away. One hand was grasping her pendant while the other was outstretched in front of her, glowing with the same color of magic. "I think this has gone on far too--" Golden Spider twisted in mid-air and aimed at Twilight, firing off her webbing. This was not a singular quick shot as she had been using however, but a long line more like a thin rope, with one end hitting Twilight in the chest, and the other being grabbed by Golden's hand. She twisted her entire body as she gave it a hard yank, pulling Twilight Sparkle from her feet and throwing her into Daydream, who had just finished removing her own web based bindings. The two were knocked over the fell to the ground, the impact breaking Twilight's concentration. Free of the grip and having lost all forward momentum, the spider themed superhero Sunset Shimmer dropped toward the stage floor. Having been ready for it, she pushed forward enough to land on her hands, then used them to flip off and launch herself back into the air. Landing on her feet, she again lunged through the air and made her way toward Trixie. Seeing the brightly colored character flying at her ready for a fight, Trixie did the only thing she could think of. With a long practiced to the point of instinctive flick of her wrist and flourish of her hand, she conjured one of her smoke bombs. She threw it down at her feet hard, causing it to shatter with a loud POP! A cloud of silvery smoke rose up from it, engulfing Trixie and hiding her from view. Golden Spider passed through it, hitting nothing as she landed on the other side. Trixie was no longer on the stage. Instead she was on the ground in front of the stage, along side Sonata. "This is bad," Trixie whispered, grabbing the brim of her hat and pulling it down. "Are you kidding?" Sonata asked as she took some popcorn from the carton she had and shoved it into her mouth. "I've never gotten to see a live superhero action scene before." Trixie lifted her hat enough to turn and glare at Sonata. "Come on!" Sonata huffed out. "You have to admit this would be awesome to see in a cartoon or movie." "Not when it's happening to me!" Trixie hissed. "There has to be something we can do to keep her from creating a pile of Trixie paste." "Okay, okay," Sonata replied. "I'll try to get Twilight and Daydream to come up with a plan." Her eyes narrowed as she smirked. "Bu-u-t... that means that you will have to keep miss spider Shimmer busy until we come up with something." Trixie's glare turned into a scowl. She hate-hate-hated the idea of going back up there and dealing with an angry Sunset Shimmer that had decided she was some sort of master supervillain. She especially hated that she knew Sonata was right. Trixie was the target, and -- as annoying as it was to admit -- of the four of them, Daydream and Twilight were the smartest, so they would be the best to come up with sort of plan. That was all too much for Trixie to admit to herself though, to say nothing of another. "I hate you so much right now," she growled out at Sonata. Sonata just smiled, looking so smug. Bitch. With a huff of annoyance, Trixie produced another of her smoke bombs and threw it down at her feet. "Wh-what happened?" asked a very confused stage magician Sunset, suddenly on the ground where Trixie had been a second ago. "How did I get here?" "Magic!" Sonata answered, throwing up her free hand and spreading her fingers wide. She then shoved the carton of popcorn into Sunset's hands. "Here. Help yourself. I've got work to do."