it's not my fault. I keep telling people, if they don't like my stuff... DON'T LOOK AT IT.
"What!?" Sunset stood up upon hearing the news.
"I was taking Fluttershy home when we saw these police cars parked outside. At first, she thought something happened to her family. That's when the boys in blue came in and arrested her for killing three people! They also arrested Rhymey on the same thing!" Dash said.
Sunset gasped,"Oh, no." She went to one of her drawers, and picked up a phone book,"I can't believe this happened." She gritted her teeth,"And everything was going so well too!" She grabbed her phone,"I'm going to look for a lawyer, Rainbow, you sit tight."
"Sit tight? Sit tight?" asked Rainbow Dash shocked. "My best friend is in prison right now, and you want me to sit tight!?"
"Panicking is only going to make things worse." Sunset muttered,"Alright, I still got some gems from Equestria I can use to pay for a lawyer." She looked at one number,"Hmm."
"I'm not panicking!!!!" Dash shouted. She then looked around ,"I'm just scared for her!! She's too nice and innocent to survive in jail!"
Fluttershy sighed, running her hand along one of the bars. A small tear rolled down her cheek as she said, "I suppose this is what I-"
"Hey cutie," said one of the larger female prisoners. "Don't you look sweet."
"Um, hello?" Fluttershy squeaked.
Another prisoner smiled and showed her pierced tongue, "Looks like we have some fresh meat here girls."
"Yeah," smirking the large one, "Who wants first taste?"
Fluttershy backed up, shaking in terror.
"Father," Rhymey complained as he got out of the limo, "This is ridiculous! If this falls under, I will get arrested and put in the chair!"
"Silencio!" shouted Harry as he walked into the mansion. "This will not fall. After this court trial is over and Fluttershy is on death row, we will free her. After which, you will bring her here and we will then head to Tibet. There, she can finally achieve her destiny."
"This would be easier if you had let me bed her," Rhymey said, shaking his head.
Harry narrowed his eyes, "Last I checked, those plans were falling slowly. The more this year was rolling on, the more your little seductions were failing."
"You forget, I did have her in my room during the summer. I did have her on my bed and I-"
"Made her run away from you and into the arms of that dyke. A very failed operation," Harry said sitting on his big chair. "Or am I to presume the losses against these monsters have been successes?"
"I cannot explain it father," Rhymey said. "The powers that Lighting granted us. They... they have failed us. That monster destroyed them and our ability to morph. And need I remind you, I was not trained to kill those freaks from Angel Grove or any of those places. You trained me to kill freaks-"
"Like the Kryptonian, the speedster, and any that your leader will ask of you. I did not raise you to be a whiner or to mope around, child," Condemned Harry. "Now, rest, as far as the island is concerned, you are in house arrest because of the murders that you are involved. After all, you are '19' are you not?"
"Yes, a young lad," Rhymey laughed as he sat and sipped some wine.
Madylin looked to Dash, "You don't think that Rhymey really got her to kill, do you?"
"No!" Dash shouted, "Fluttershy is a lot of things, but a killer? No. What about you, Sunset?
"I doubt it. Who knows what that guy did to her?" Sunset sighed,"I can't seem to get through to any good lawyers..."
Dash sighed and looked down. With a sigh, she said, "Can I crash here for a bit? I'm too upset to go home."
"You really care about her, don't ya?" Asked Madylin, a smirk on her face.
"Well, yeah. I mean, we've been close since she was five," Dash said.
"Oh...close," she teased.
Rainbow Dash finally caught on and growled before throwing a pillow, "Not like that!!!!!"
(Somewhere, in Japan)
"Pheeny! You have a letter!" shouted girl with a top hat.
A younger man with two hair spikes on his head looked up and asked, "Ok, Phoenix. Why have you been getting so many letters?" asked Apollo, looking down and trying to read. "A...Amer...It's in English!"
A man with slicked back, spiky hair looked up from his desk, bags under his sleep deprived eyes,"Let me see that, I've taken some English classes,"He read the letter.
"Dear Phoenix Wright,
Recently, a friend of mine in America is currently under suspicion of being a murderer. I am trying to get some of my friends on this case to help her and prove that she is innocent. However, all of the evidence in the world will not help her unless she has a good lawyer to convinced the jury. I do not trust the people of the island and I have no true connections to get a lawyer in the states that can hope to win this. Thus, I am employing the services of the best lawyer in Japan. I had a friend do research in your case book and I am quite impressed with your skills.
Please, a life is at stake and an innocent girl is in trouble. Help her. Enclosed is a check. Note, this check is just an upfront fee and some extra that will allow you passage into the States. Win this case and I will triple the amount.
Signed,
Lighter Malone."
When Wright opened the check, he would see the amount of $100,000
Phoenix spat out the coffee he was drinking,"What?"
A girl with brown hair and dressed in a yellow vest leaned over,"That's not a period..."
"Nope!" Phoenix squeaked.
Apollo frowned,"An innocent girl in trouble, huh? Sounds like our typical line of work."
Phoenix got up,"I-I need to take this case. Apollo, you're in charge!"
"Sweet! Um what should I do if Edge says he wants to play another of your...'secret' pokemon games?" asked Apollo.
Phoenix rubbed his head nervously,"Um, get Trucy, she loves playing with Uncle Edgeworth when I'm gone."
Sunset slammed her head on the desk,"Gah, Twilight, how do you do this!?" She then heard the phone ring,"Huh?" She picked it up,"Flutters has a new attorney, how did that happen!?"
The next morning, Rainbow Dash leaned back on the bed, screaming into her pillow. After a few moments, she held to the phone to her ear, "And that is the story so far, AJ."
"I am so sorry Rainbow. Ah think Ah can find time later on to see her," Applejack said. "Ah'll also call Rarity and see what we can do. Did they post bail?"
"Yeah. Since she is only a suspect right now, they are allowing it," Dash said. Shaking her head she sighed, "guess the laws are different on Mystic Island."
"That, or Celesto wants Fluttershy and Rhymey out now," Applejack said. "A little too suspicious if ya ask me. What's Sunset doing right now?"
At Sunset's scream, Dash sighed, "Not good. We tried this guy called manhunter and we got nothing. Madylin is looking things up and we haven't got anything. Does Rarity know yet?"
"Ah'll tell her and Twi," Applejack said. Then with a sigh, she said, "Wish ya luck."
"Thanks."
"Yeah," Pinkie said on the other line. "She just got someone from Japan. He'll be here tomorrow morning and someone is going to talk to police to let her into custody."
"Good, at least she'll be safe from Rhymey." Sunset muttered,"Who is this guy?"
"Don't know, I guess we'll find out." Pinkie said, hanging up the phone.
Dash was halfway to the door, "Ok, lets go!"
Sunset got up,"Alright, then." She walked with Rainbow.
At the station, they found Mrs. Firewing standing at the door with Zephyr at her side, "Oh, my poor Fluttershy. Who knows what's going on in there?"
"Breezie, have they let her go yet?" Rainbow Dash asked, panting. Quickly she as hugged by Fluttershy's mother.
Grey Son looked at Sunset, and frowned, "I had a good long talk with the officers in there. It seems that the rules of the island are that the family is allowed a house arrest for the defendant until the trial. Sadly, they won't let Fluttershy's family take her. They're thinking to put her with the Wards...wonder why that is." Grey mocked.
Dash growled, "It's because they want her there. They want to use her for some ritual and-"
"Hey, let's not throw suspicious here. I helped the family talk them into letting her stay with you," Grey said, looking at Rainbow Dash.
"Me?" Rainbow asked.
Grey smirked, "Not a problem is it?"
"No! I just..." she said nothing.
"Good, because you two can visit," Grey said, before secretly slipping a piece of paper into Sunset's pocket.
Sunset blinked, quickly looking around, before checking the paper as she walked with Dash.
'Rooftop, 25 mins. let's have a detective conference.' and the symbol of a large blue bird lined the end of the note.
As they walked in, they could hear Fluttershy talking, "So, tell me more about your problems, Ms. Pinxit?"
The blonde sighed, a tattoo of a bunny popping up and landing on her lap, "Well, other than my rape trauma, I just feel so left out by the other rouges in Gotham. Everyone there had a chance to fight the bat more than once, but not me. It's getting to the point where I feel about as useless as the freaking ten-eyed man, and I don't think anyone has even heard of him since he died!!!!"
The other girls in the jail began to pat her on the back, all having comforting looks on their faces. Fluttershy nodded, "It's all right, we don't all have to be big name villians. It's ok to just be a one-shot."
"So, who is next?" asked a woman wearing leather and with a dark purple mohawk. Glaring at one of the prisoners, she asked, "You?"
"Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash said, running to the bars.
"Dashie!" cheered Fluttershy as she ran to the bars and held Dash's hand.
Shining Armor smiled and said, "You are free to go into her custody, plus you are allowed in the school, but only there. Cadet Raindrops will help keep an eye on you."
"Don't worry Sargent Armor, I got it," Raindrops said, opening the cell doors.
Shining then turned to Sunset, a little bit of a worried look on his face, "Sunset, is Twilight all right?"
Sunset blinked,"Why are you asking?" She looked at the clock.
Shining sighed, "She has been moody, and kept to herself for most of the month, ever since you girls got back from that little cottage. She won't talk to me, and I can't even tell her about my wedding day. I thought maybe you might know about it."
Sunset sighed,"That's the thing, she doesn't seem to want to tell us anything either." She shook her head.
"Sunset," Shining said, putting his hand onto her shoulder, "She has been really close with you. If anyone can get through to her..." he paused, "Just let me know if you can get to her."
Sunset nodded,"I'll try my best."
Rainbow Dash walked out with Fluttershy in hand. Fluttershy said, "According to Grey Son, my lawyer is flying in tomorrow. He said if you want, you can be there when we meet him."
"Yeah, but right now, I need to bring her home," Dash said, taking Fluttershy by the hand.
On the rooftop, Nightwing sighed as he watched Sunset walk up, "It's just missing something without the big spotlight."
"Yeah, that's kind of silly when you think about it." Sunset said,"Why am I here?"
"I want to know how well you like to investigate," Nightwing said. "I had a feeling that you are curious about the truth as much as I am."
"Oh, I would enjoy investigating." Sunset smiled,"I want some answers."
"So do I," Nightwing said, shaking his head, "I don't like who is involved in this whole thing and I personally also want answers."
Sunset thought,"Yeah, and I feel like there's some corruption with the system as well."
"You noticed," Nightwing said, walking around, "Just how did Grand Ruler get so much power and how is it that this island doesn't seem to have any history since the time it was founded 8 years ago.
"Yeah, and it seems like no one noticed when it first appeared."
"All right, Meet me on this rooftop at 10 and we can investigate the first murder on the list," Nightwing smirked and said, "It'll be nice having a sidekick."
The next day, Sunset, Dash, and Fluttershy sat in Dash's apartment as their lawyer came in. When Rainbow laid eyes on Phoenix, she asked, "Who's the hedgehog."
(Hedgehog!?) Phoenix felt a bead of sweat on the back of his head,"I'm Phoenix Wright. Which one of you is Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy raised her hand, "Um I am Mr. Wright (In Japanese: What's a japanese lawyer doing in the states?)
Phoenix blinked,"(You can speak Japanese?)"
(Yes, I studied it a lot over the years. I am a huge fan of anime and manga. One day I want to visit Japan.)" Fluttershy said.
"(Ah, an Otaku. Reminds me of a friend of mine.)" Phoenix said.
"You getting this, genius?" Dash asked
Sunset smirked,"Rainbow, I used Japanese language tapes to sleep too, of course I do."
"Good, glad someone does," Rainbow said with a roll of her eyes.
Noting the annoyance of her friend, Fluttershy continued in english, "Mr. Wright, I am so glad you have come to help me."
"Hey, I practically specialize in these kinds of cases." Phoenix smiled,"Although, I usually do it in my home country." He let out a breath,"And I had to practically pry you from that Ward Lawyer." He gave a shudder,"He gave me the creeps."
"Who is he?" asked Dash
"Larry Ward." Phoenix said,"Though he's not as creepy as the prosecutor I met on the way here, Harvey Kent. Something about his fixation with the number two just weirds me out."
"Harvey Kent?" Dash asked, looking to sunset, "Is he new? His name sounds weird.
Sunset shrugged,"Sounds almost like Clark Kent or something.
"Mr. Wright, I don't know how you can help," Fluttershy said, shaking her head. "It almost seems cut and dry. I remember killing those people with Rhymey, I know I was holding a bloodied knife and I remember stabbing them."
"Yeah, and Sunset really did mean to seperate us," Dash said dismissively.
Phoenix frowned, putting a thumb to his chin,"Memory can be faulty." He looked at them,"I've seen cases like this before, and usually, things aren't what they seem. I'll need to know the locations of the crime scenes."
"I remember, all five places that we...killed in the last four years," Fluttershy whispered.
Rainbow Dash frowned and exclaimed, "Presumed killed!"
"Presumed killed?" Phoenix asked.
"I don't believe she killed anyone!" Rainbow Dash growled, before looking back at Fluttershy. "look at her! Does she look like a girl who could hurt a person?"
"But, Rainbow, I remember. I remember the feel of the knife, the screams, the-" Fluttershy began to whimper, a tear flowing down her cheek. "There was Sunstar-"
"Ditzy's boyfriend?" asked Rainbow, her eyes wide. "You don't mean that..."she trailed off.
Fluttershy sniffled, "I killed him, Rhymey killed his mother in their house. That was my first kill."
"Ok, no, that proves it!" Dash said, looking at Phoenix, "She would never take a father away from his child!"
Fluttershy nodded, "I only knew Sunstar because of his connection with Ditzy. Then there was this man and wife who was living here because they were on the run from some business man. Rhymey told me that they were evil and they needed to be stopped. Then there was this couple that I didn't recognize-"
"Why has it been mainly couples?" asked Madylin.
Fluttershy looked down, "He said that the was how they worked and we needed to work together."
"Sounds more like he just wanted and excuse for post kill making out," Rainbow snarked.
Fluttershy shied away and shuddered, "That...wasn't all he tried with me." she said, hugging herself.
("Rainbow, let me stay in your room in the cabin. I'm scared."
"No, I'm fine Dash, I just don't want to be touched."
"Let's go to the cabin now. Oh, I'm fine, really...")
"He-" Dash opened her eyes and growled.
Madylin looked to Sunset, "If we kill him, would it make more trouble."
"He didn't succeed," Fluttershy said, whimpering, "But he got close on the night of our fourth kill. That was just this August, it was Berry's boyfriend and sister."
"That was the only time?" Dash asked.
"Y-y-y-y," Fluttershy stammered and then looked away, "Yes, even when we made our fifth kill. that was when Pinkie got her-" she paused as she realized what she was about to say, "Um, gem!"
Sunset frowned,"Don't remind me."
Phoenix raised an eyebrow at that cut off,(That gem's probably not important to the case, but I'll make sure to remember that. Man, why do people keep secrets from me? Am I that untrustworthy of a lawyer?),"Alright, do you know the locations of the murders?"
Sunset frowned,"Don't remind me."
Fluttershy handed a paper with various locations to him.
Phoenix smiled,"Thanks, I'll go to these places right after I ask Rhymey a few questions." He placed a hand on Fluttershy's shoulder,"I don't think you really killed those people. I'm trusting my gut on this one, and it's never wrong.(Most of the time.)"
"Thank you," Fluttershy said, smiling up warmly at Phoenix.
Phoenix walked out of the building, and looked at his notepad,"Okay, now to find Rhymey."
"What do you mean Rhymey's back at the Detention Center?" Phoenix asked.
The man looked at him, slicking back his hair,"Because, Mr. Wright, he has been accused of bribing the judge as well as murder. The judge has been disbarred from court, meaning our case has been delayed.
Harry frowned as he heard the news, stepping to stand with Phoenix, "That is wrong. I would never have a son who would bribe an official. Who is to replace the judge then?"
The man flipped a coin,"Perhaps you should've thought of something better than trying to force an unrelated criminal into your home for house arrest, despite being against the law." He glared at Harry,"The new judge is someone named Joseph Dredd. Heaven knows how he got that name."
Phoenix frowned,"And you are, again?"
"Harvey, Harvey Kent."
"I am afraid I have never heard of the name, are you the DA?" Harry asked.
"Was, but... I stepped down." Harvey said,"I transfered over here from Gotham, mainly because this is such an unusual case. Two defendants, how... interesting." Harvey smiled,"But I don't think I really care if you've heard of me, Harry, all I care about is whether or not I should consider sending people to investigate you?
"Me? Why would you investigate me?" Harry asked.
"Let's see, making someone unrelated to you randomly be placed under your care is mighty suspicious. Plus, I have noticed that your own defense attorney seems to lack any credentials, and only seems to be there as a hanger on. Not only that, but strange noises seem to come from your home, dare I say, almost... abusive noises. Domestic abuse is a crime, Harry." Harvey smirked. He looked at Phoenix,"I intend to make Fluttershy stay in the Detention Center as well."
"What, why?" Phoenix frowned.
"Because Fluttershy has the potential to be a dangerous criminal, if she is one."
"Potential?" asked Harry. "All the more reason why she should stay with me. And I object to the idea that I allow domestic abuse in my household with my own sun"
"No, that's also illegal, Mr. Ward." Harvey said, glaring at him,"I doubt you are more capable of protecting others as the police."
Harry frowned and sighed, "I see your point, but I would like to tell you I object to this idea." he then looked to Phoenix and said, "You better hope you are good...whoever you are.”
Phoenix shuddered,"Uh, sure."
"A pleasure to meet you mr. Kent was it?" asked Grey. "I am the student's teacher, I wanted to check up on them both and report to the principal."
"Oh, hello there." Harvey said, looking at Grey,"And you're name is?"
"Grey Son," Grey said, and then looked closely at Kent, "You know, I came from gotham myself. But I don't recall any D.A's that left with that name. Your last name does sound like that reporter guy from Metropolis...bent was it I think?"
"Well, I don't really pay attention to anyone from Metropolis." Harvey said,"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go back to the courthouse to check my papers."
Phoenix sighed,"I guess it's time to head to the Detention Center."
"I'll go back to the school," Grey said.
Harry stepped into the headmaster room of Celesto's office. There, he pressed a button on the desk that opened a secret elevator that led him down the stairs, "Celesto, this is a bit of troubling news."
"Troubling?!" shouted Celesto, "You got my prize student arrested, got one of the rangers arrested, and you are interfering with-"
"Last I recall," Harry said with a glare, wich made Celesto shudder, "I gave you my son because your goals did not interfere with my masters. My son was only allied with you so he can find and get the last of the Dragonlord line into his arms and bed her. You have no right to him beyond that."
"But you are interfering with my boss-"
"Do you think the Demon's Head cares about your mysterious benefactor?" Harry said, walking through the cave. "The only reason why we came to your little island was because the trail of Dragonlord led us to this island. The magical well that lies near the school was only a bonus."
Celesto rolled his eyes as he looked at the screen that linked him to Gallant and then up to the roof, "Yes, and that is why we benefit each other. I help my master find his chosen soul and you to find and obtain Dragonlord's blood."
"And you are now failing that!" Harry said. "My plan is right now in shambles. The judge, wich you promised me would ensure a death penalty for Fluttershy, is gone. My son is back in jail and Fluttershy is back in that detention center."
"So, she is now where you can-"
"Bail, proof of being safe, house arrest? Do these terms mean nothing? You own this island, you make the law!" shouted Harry.
Celsto gulped swallowing hard, "But, I still have to abide by the laws of the United States. Mystic Island is still under California laws you know."
"Think I care?" Harry said. "The Demon's Head has grown impatient with me, and his wrath is not to be abused."
"Then what do I do?" asked Celesto.
Harry straightened up and walked away, "Nothing. You leave this part of the plan to me."
Rainbow Dash growled and looked to Sunset, "What do you mean she has to go back!?"
Sunset sighed,"It's the law, Rainbow. Unfortunately, since you're not a family member, and this technically isn't Fluttershy's house, she can't be here. Take a look at it this way, at least she's under protective custody."
Dash growled and kicked the floor, "I don't have to like it! She doesn't belong in there!
"No she doesn't!" Sunset frowned,"But she has to be there." Se sighed,"At least we can visit her."
Dash frowned and kicked back, "Doesn't make me feel better."
Sunset sighed,"Well, at least we got a lawyer. Speaking of which, I need to make a few investigations. See you later." She turned and headed out the door."
Rainbow Dash reached out, but then pulled away. A frown appeared on her face as she whispered, "Alone again...naturally." slowly she looked towards the skies and said to herself, "Leaving is looking better and better."
Inside Harry Ward's study, the phone began to ring.
Curious, Harry picked up the phone, "Hello?"
"Hello, Harry." A guttural voice said,"It's been too long since one of you have been in court." A tinge of anger came from his voice.
"Who is this?" asked Harry with a frown.
"You do not need to know my name at the moment. I'm only here to ask you... do you remember Gotham?" The man asked,"Do you remember an up-and-coming prosecutor who lost your case because of a corrupt system? Do you know how hard it is being a prosecutor in Gotham? Where every single judge, jury and attorney is bribed? Do you know how vindictive that young prosecutor has become now?"
"I have done that many times in Gotham," Harry said, "It's how this low ranking assassin made his first million. What does it matter to me about one prosecutor or another?"
"Because that one prosecutor may hold your son's life in his hands right now." The voice said,"I and the prosecutor want the trial to go fairly, and swimmingly, which is the reason that judge was kicked out and replaced with Dredd. Dredd is known for being by-the-book, he won't be bribed. As for the ex-judge?"
A man in a suit stood over a dead body with two bullet holes in his head,"He won't be back, ever."
"Now, if you attempt to sway this trial in your, or your son's way... well, an execution may happen sooner than you'd think. Either that, or I reveal your secret to the world." The voice said,"However, if you leave well enough alone and let justice take its course? then I might just let you live."
"You think I care if my son lives?" asked Harry with a chuckle, "But my secret... how can I be sure you won't tell anyone if I comply to your demands.
"I'm a man of my word. Once I make a decision, I keep to it." The man in the suit flipped a coin,"And I made the decision to keep your secret, unless you try to betray the system."
"Fine," Harry said, sighing, "You realize you are messing with someone who will not be happy about this."
"Do you think I care? I'm in this for myself, and only myself. I only fear two things in this world." The man said,"And they're not here. Good bye... Harry Ward." He turned off the pay phone.
"Boss, I've got the outfits." Another man in a two-piece suit said,"When do we move?"
"The trial isn't for another two weeks." The boss said," I will let you know when to move out."
Phoenix looked at the window,"Rhymey Ward, are you there?"
Rhymey glared at Phoenix, eyes piercing like daggers, "Allow me to be blunt
What do you want?"
Phoenix held up his hands defensively,(Geez, why do all the people I talk have weird quirks?)"I just need to ask a few questions."
"Questions?
What questions?
Are you wanting to know why I am here
Or why I have been held away from my dear?
(Clingy, much?) Phoenix coughed,"I just want to know more about what you and Fluttershy are being accused of. Did you know the victims?"
"The victims?
Why do you speak such idioms?
There were no murder no kills
Definitely not ones done for thrills.
You are mistaken because of the victims I did not know
And interrogating me is not the way to go."
Phoenix frowned, fondling an object in his pocket,"You're being kind of difficult here, Rhymey."
"Difficult me?
But how can this be?
I am not uncouth
For I tell the truth."
Phoenix pulled out a small purple object,"Are you sure? You didn't kill anyone, correct?"
"YES!"
The magatama glowed, showing before Phoenix's eyes several chains surrounding Rhymey, then being locked by large red chains,"Hmm," Phoenix got up,"I'll be back, I need to get some things."
"I'll see you later
Investigator."
(And get a rhyming coach.) Phoenix looked at the first address on his list,"That went almost nowhere, so I might as well start investigating."
Rainbow Dash laid in her bed, throwing a ball against the ceiling. A frown crossed her lips as she thought about the look on Fluttershy's face as she was taken back to the jail, "She doesn't belong there. Not at all." she then rolled off her bed and walked to her closet. Opening it, she pulled on a soft flight jacket.
("This belonged to your grandmother, Rainbow," Firefly said. "She was one of the more special members of the Blackhawks."
"And then they became the Wonderbolts, right?" asked Dash.
Firelfy nodded "And that is why I will always be in the sky, to honor them.")
(Jerk
Arrogant.
You are an insult to your element.
"Hey Lightning or whoever you are, beat it!"
"Why? I am only trying to show off."
"Yeah and you are-" she changed her voice, "beating me!"
Selfish
Care only about yourself.
Will hurt.)
Dash growled and punched the wall, "Great, now you are talking to me. Well, maybe...you're right." she sighed. "What good is it being loyal when you know that everyone will leave in the end.Or that it feels like I can't protect worth crap!"
(You will hurt them.
You will run and never come back)
"Whateves, I'm bouncing."
Dash walked out of the apartment, sighing as she looked back at her sleeping dad. Then she looked at a picture of Firefly, smiling while holding a baby rainbow above her head. Shaking her head, she walked out and sighed. Then she heard a faint sound of a guitar, "What..."
In an alleyway, Nightwing watched as Sunset stepped to her bike, "So, you can ride."
Sunset smirked,"Of course." She put on her helmet.
"Good, then I hope your little POS can catch up with Blackwing here," Nightwing said, rubbing the black bike slowly.
"Hey, Blaze is no POS! She's better than any old bike like yours."
Dick smirked, "Prove it.
"Fine then!" Sunset revved up her bike.
With a shout, Nightwing rode his bike down the road to the first house, looking back he smiled at Sunset. (So this is what it's like to have a partner.)
Sunset smiled(This actually kind of fun.)
Nightwing continued to drive off, letting his friend to catch up.
Sunset looked ahead,"The front door's open?"
Nightwing looked curious, stepping inside. Then he looked at the lock, "It wasn't really locked."
"That's not real bright." Sunset said, then she heard ruffling. She glared, cracking her knuckles.
Stepping inside, Nightwing glared to the direction of the shuffling. Stepping to the shadows, he waited for the figure to come closer before sticking out his stick and aiming it at Phoenix's throat, "What are you doing here?"
"Gah! Don't hurt me, I'm just a lawyer!" Then, realizing what he said, he immediately backpedaled,"Um, I mean, I don't want hospital bills!"
Nightwing slipped his baton back into his holster, "What is a lawyer doing in a crime scene?
Phoenix let out a sigh of relief."I know it's a bit unorthodox, but I like to do a little investigating before a court case." He looked at Nightwing,"What are you doing here?" He looked at Sunset as well,"And aren't you missing a costume?"
"Haven't gotten the powers yet." Sunset muttered.
"Investigating a crime scene. Trying to solve the murder here," Nightwing said, and looked to sunset.
"Same, I'm trying to help my friend." Sunset said.
Phoenix thought for a moment,"I thought you were in Bludhaven?"
“I'm here for a friend of mine," Nightwing said.
Phoenix nodded,"Makes sense. Well, I hope you don't mind me snooping around with you, do you?"
"Just be careful," Nightwing said.
"I'll try not to break anything." Phoenix gave a nervous chuckle.
Nightwing nodded and nudged his head over his shoulder as he stepped in followed by Phoenix and Sunset.
The trio searched the area.
Nightwing began to look over the area, his eyes trying to see what he could find even though this murder only happened a week ago. Calm breaths escaped his lips as he walked through the area, trying to be careful not to disturb anything that could be helpful. Looking back at Sunset, he said, "You are pretty good at this."
Sunset carefully looked at a mirror,"I read a lot of detective novels, and I listen to old radio plays of The Shadow."
Nightwing let out a chuckle as he walked through the bedroom, "I remember those... the way Shadow tells them is better though."
"Wait, you've actually met The Shadow?" Sunset asked.
Nightwing smiled and nodded, "Yeah, he and the Bat met a few times before."
"That's awesome!" Sunset said,"What about the Green Hornet?"
The Chinese martial artist irked ad he stood over the defeated Robin. With a calm serenity he said, "Remember, keep focused."
Nightwing said nothing as he looked in the bedroom, "Did they let you look at the autopsy reports, Phoenix?”
"Hold on," Phoenix took out his notebook,"They gave me the reports when I took the job."
As Nightwing read it, he asked himself, "Fluttershy shouldn't be strong enough for this kind of work
Phoenix nodded,"That's what I'm thinking, because I checked her weight."
"Not to mention, you can't convince someone to do something against their nature even while under hypnosis."
Sunset blinked,"Huh,really?"
Nodded as he looked to the bed, "No struggle, but the victims died in bed. They weren't asleep..."
Phoenix scratched his head,"Something's not right here."
"Sunset, Fluttershy was doing something to that Pink Ranger, wasn't she?" asked Nightwing.
Sunset nodded,"She was using her kindness to calm her down."
"Could she do that if she was convinced to?"
"Well, yes, I mean, she shouldn't need to be convinced."
Nightwing put a finger to his chin, "Unless someone needed her to calm the person down to make the kill easier."
Sunset blinked,"That's cruel...
"The only question, is how do we prove it," Nightwing sai.
Phoenix took a few picturex of the bed,"My question is, how long has this been left here?"
Nightwing looked at the bed, using his trained eyes to look it over.
Sunset looked around the room for more clues.
Near a nightstand was a broken phone, with the camera mode on.
Sunset picked it up, and looked it over.
"I wonder if Twilight can get this fixed?"
"Think she'll talk to you?" asked Nightwing.
"Probably not, but it wouldn't hurt to try." Sunset said.
"Why wouldn't she talk to you?" Phoenix asked.
"Well, she doesn't like talking to me at the moment." Sunset looked down,"A lot of people don't like talking to me at the moment."
Nightwing nodded, "The report doesn't even have a weapon?"
Phoenix looked at it,"let me check."
"Good, and let me know if they had it," Nightwing then looked at Sunset, "and if Twilight doesn't talk to you, come to me.
Sunset nodded, getting up,"Right." She looked at the phone,"Twilight..."
"..." Twilight stared at Sunset.
Sunset stared at Twilight,"Will you do it?
"... only because Fluttershy's in danger." Twilight grabbed the phone and began to tinker with it. A smile came onto her face,"You know, this is really nice to work with. I love technology, I don't get too much time to work with it nowadays."
Sunset blinked,"Twilight?"
"Yes? Sorry, I'm just so into this. Hey, maybe-" Twilight's happy tone was suddenly interrupted,"Sorry, got a little carried away." She muttered.
Shining Armor looked into the room, "Hey, girls, can I get you two anything?"
Twilight muttered,"Coffee..."
Sunset looked at Shining,"Does she normally get like this?"
"Yeah, a lot lately," Shining said, looking down. "Sometimes she'll give me a one word answer or she'll get temperamental with me just for asking."
Sunset sighed,"Great, even you don't know what's wrong with her."
"Fixed." Twilight said, giving the phone to Sunset.
(Is that all you are to her?
Look at Sunset Twilight. She doesn't see you as a lover, a person, or a woman...
No, she's seeing you as a tool right now.
Love? She doesn't know the meaning of the word.
Bet she ignores you on purpose.)
Twilight snarled,"Next time, call."
Sunset raised her hands,"Okay..."
"Twilight, that was uncalled for!" Shining said.
"Oh, I’m sorry for wanting an actual heads up if someone's coming over, you know!" Twilight snarled.
"The last time I texted you, you didn't answer!" Sunset growled,"None of you did!"
"Yeah, how does it feel to be alone!? Or do you not care!" Twilight shouted.
"I do care!" Sunset shouted,"But you don't apparently!"
Spike raised his paw to say something, but backed up when he saw the rage in their eyes. Shining shook his head, "Now that was uncalled for from both of you!"
Sunset frowned,"Well, she started it." She turned around,"I'll be back when you calm down."
Twilight turned away,"I'm heading into my room.
"Twilight will you get back here!" Shining shouted to her.
"Your not my dad!" Twilight shouted, locking her door."
Shining armor shouted, "No, but when's he not here I might as well be." he then sighed and looked down.
"Is everything all right?" Cadence asked, patting Shining on the shoulder.
"I just wish I knew how to help her," Shining said.
Sunset leaned on the wall of the alley, looking t the phone,"Darn it, Twilight..."
Rainbow Dash followed the sound of the guitar playing The tune was a heavy thrumming tune, carrying with it a sorrowful melody. A sullen string continued to play. and soon came across a punk sitting in the park.The man had a leather jacket with bone hands on the shoulders. Across his forehead was a headband that had a skull on the front. The man continued to play his guitar as he watched Rainbow Dash walk in, "Hello." his leather pants shining in the evening light.
"Punk look is out, haven't you heard?" Rainbow Dash asked the guitar player.
The man laughed, "Heh, I lived in the 90s and let me tell you my friend...punk never dies." he then played a loud guitar riff.
"What's the tune?" Rainbow Dash, leaning against the tree.
"A demon's loyalty," the man said, playing his guitar.
Dash shook her head, "Never heard a demon being loyal."
"Sure they are. They can be loyal to the gold, to their sin, and to their cruelty. Surely you have seen demons be as such," the punk said.
"MEt five once, but we found out they were a bunch of low level demons that couldn't even match the level of imps," Dash said, kicking the ground, "They called themselves the demonites and we just let Starfleet take over the victory."
"So I heard," the punk said. "But, you see. Demons can be very loyal, surely you must still be loyal."
"Haven't found much to be loyal too, lately," Dash said, sighing. "If it wasn't the fact that my gir-best friend was in jail, it's the fact that we're graduating soon."
The man laughed, "And you are not happy? You are finally free."
"Yeah, finally free...from everything that I care about," Rainbow Dash said, looking up at the sky. "What's the point in being loyal when everything leaves you in the end. My mom, Twilight, and soon...my friends."
"Are you thinking of running?" the man asked, "That would be simpler than staying loyal to a world that abandons you. Everything leaves in the end, right?"
"I don't run," Dash said, letting out a sigh. "I just..."
"Want something to remain loyal too?" asked the man. "I remember being loyal to my father, but his his madness forced my hand."
"He must have been cruel," Dash asked.
The man laughed "Like you wouldn't believe. See, this is why it's good to question your loyalty and where you stand."
Dash shook her head, "I don't like questioning things. I rather just do things."
"I see," the man said, and then he smiled, "You play?"
"Yeah, you want me to join? Just who are you?" Dash asked.
The man smiled, "Call me Nobel Junior."
Applejack stepped in, "Sunset?"
"Hey, Applejack." Sunset said, looking at the phone.
"Were you just talking to Twilight? Got something that can help Fluttershy?" Applejack asked.
"Yeah, take a look at the video on this cell phone."
Applejack looked into the cellphone, "Hey, it's two archeologist that they say Fluttershy killed."
The video showed the young couple, walking around in the room, discussing amongst themselves. The dialogue was faint, allowing only for the briefest of words to be spoken and to be made out.
"Dragon"
"Destroyer"
"Bloodlines"
Then the two turned to the sound of the door opening, seeing two figures step out from the doorway. One was Rhymey, while the other was Fluttershy. Fluttershy had no weapon as she stepped in, but her eyes were beginning to open wide. As the couple looked, they were paralyzed to move. They were frozen in place as Rhymey laid them both onto the bed. He then looked to Fluttershy, who nodded and walked to the couple, rubbing their heads as the blade was drawn.
Applejack shook her head, "Ah don't get it. Fluttershy never had magic before, not like that. It... isn't possible is it?"
"And they were archeologists, too...." Sunset muttered.
"And a couple," Applejack said, "Why are they in pairs?"
Phoenix walked in, "You girls called?"
"Howdy, you must the be the lawyer," Applejack said, shaking Phoenix's hand.
A pair of pupiless eyes appeared in the shadows, "What do you want to talk about Sunset?"
"HOLY DEMETER!" Applejack backed up, "You're real!
Phoenix gasped,"Gah, would you not do that!?"
"Hey, when you are a member of the family," Nightwing shrugged, "This comes natural."
Phoenix held his chest,(One of these days, I'm going to have a heart attack!)
Sunset held out her phone,"Watch this."
Nightwing watched the video, looking on closely. Keeping quiet, and smirked, "Well, this can help Fluttershy a little at least. Still need the weapon."
Phoenix wrote down on his notebook,"This will help against Rhymey as well.."
Sunset nodded,"WE need to find the other places for more clues."
Applejack looked down, "But how are you going to get clues on some of those kills? Didn't they happen a few years ago."
Sunset thought for a moment,"Well, do they still have relatives? Records?"
"Bet Pinkie can find some of it out, and I'll talk to Rarity." Applejack said.
Sunset frowned,"Guess that leaves me with Pinkie duty.”
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Applejack said.
"I'm going to Rhymey's house," Nightwing said, fading into the shadows.
Phoenix looked at them,"And I'm heading over to the detention center to do some more questioning."
"You sure you can get a word out edgewise from the jerk?" asked Applejack.
Phoenix smirked,"Trust me, I've had tougher witnesses."
"Hey Sunset!" Pinkie said, getting dressed in a somewhat fancy outfit, "What's going on? Have you save Flutterbutter yet?"
"Not yet, I just need to ask a ..." Sunet looked at her outfit,"Job interview?"
"YEP!" Pinkie said, smiling.
"Got to give the author credit for allow all of this happen in the background and build up while focusing on the main plot!!!"
"Pinkie, you have a wonfderful memory, could you tell me anything bout this couple?" Sunset showed her the picture of the archeologists."
"Oh, are those-" the words died on Pinkie’s lips
"Rhymey's victims." Sunset said.
"So, it wasn't' FLUTTERS! YAY!!!" Pinkie cheered, "Didn't doubt her for a second!"
Sunset raised a finger,"Whoa, there, we still need evidence that she didn't do it."
"Awwww! Stupid laws," Pinkie said with a frown
"Yes, how dare they keep order and stability." Sunset sighed,"But do you know anything?"
"Give me a moment!" Pinkie said, looking at the picture. Next to Sunset, was a picture of Pinkie and the other members of her little group. She began to look and smile as she saw the group standing in their outfits along with Starfleet. Next to that was a picture of them, together with Twilight.
(Twilight limped off the field, waving goodbye to the five, "Talk to you in a bit."
Spike rubbed his paw along Twilight's leg, "Are you ok?"
"Spike, I am a mage. I was not built for physical activity!" Twilight whimpered and laid her back against the wall.
"But, you got everypony back together," Spike said.
"Yeah, I did," she said, before looking at her hands. Sighing, she looked at Sunset as she came out from the shadows, "Told you I could get them together.
Sunset sighed,"Gotta admit, you surprised me there."
"It," Twilight sighed, wiping the sweat from her brow, "Was a little harder than I thought, but I know my friends." taking a deep breath, she then looked at Sunset, "You...could join us. We don't have to keep this up you know. Work together, stop this Grand Ruler, and free the school. Come on, we can do it."
"Twilight, I don't think-"
"Please. Two students are better than one?" Twilight said, holding out her hand.
Sunset reached out for Twilight's hand.
"Why didn't I take that?" Sunset asked herself.
"What was that?" Pinkie asked.
"Uh, nothing, just... remembering." Sunset muttered.
Pinkie sat on the bed, holding the list of victims, "Good memories?"
"It's complicated." Sunset said.
"Want to talk about it?" Pinkie asked.
Sunset sighed,"Sometimes, I think about Princess Twilight."
Pinkie lowered her head, "Oh." she said, "I think about her too. I mean, weird huh? We only knew her for a about three days, but she was like my best friend."
Sunset sighed,"She tried to work with me, but... I blew her off."
"She did? She never said that she did," Pinkie said, looking down.
"It seems people not communicating is a big problem around here." Sunset muttered.
Pinkie sighed, "You telling me. We just haven't had a chance to really tell each other anything. It's like, life is just getting in our way all of the time."
"Yeah, and life really likes to hit us hard."
"You ever think it would've been more fun if Princess Twilight had come by once in a while," Pinkie said, "You know, and been around more often. Like with the sirens?"
Sunset nodded,"Yeah, it would've been far more interesting."
Pinkie shook her head and held up the victims, "Ok, so these two, Andre Dumas and Angela Dumas, I remember them. They sometimes came to my family's farm back in Pennsylvania. They always had a lot of delicious treats. I...didn't know they were murdered."
"And of course there is Sunstar and his mom. Sunstar liked to be an archaeologist, and his mom was showing him the ropes. And then there is Jasmine and Cherry Pie, I heard they were here on the island to figure out the origin about this place."
"Hmm, they all have something to do with archeology in some way..." Sunset muttered.
Pinkie looked at Sunset curiously, "Any idea why?"
"Perhaps there's something Rhymey's family doesn't want anyone to know."
Pinkie Pie looked up, "Maybe it has something to do with that dragonlord thing."
"Yeah, why are they so interested in that." Sunset asked.
"Hmmmmm, interesting!" Pinkie said.
Nightwing looked at the large mansion from the top of a building, his muscles tense as he looked at the house. His eyes narrowed as sat, figure silhouetted in the night, looking more statuesque than a human should. Reaching into his pocket of his belt, he pulled out a small pair of binoculars. Looking in, he saw three guards walking around the home. A small smile came across his face as he said, "Let me guess, more inside." he said to himself.
Standing up to his feet, he pulled out a zip line, firing it to the side of the roof. Stepping up onto it, he began to tightrope walk along the rop, moving inch by inch along the thin strand until he reached the window of the mansion. Reaching his gauntlet, he pulled out a little jack and slipped it under the window. A few presses was all it took to open the window before he slipped in.
Carefully, he placed his feet onto the soft carpeting of the main room and sighed, he was in one of the side rooms of the mansion. With careful tred, he stepped into the mansion, his thoughts on the location, "He wouldn't be stupid enough to hide a dagger he used recently in his room, so trophy or his fathers place."
As he stepped in the mansion, he kept to the shadows allowing for his suit to keep him hidden. with each step, he kept an eye out for a guard or a person to watch for him. Stepping past one of the rooms, he began to overhear a conversation, "No master, this little trial is nothing more than a misstep. I still have everything in control. No, the detective's son isn't sure of what we are doing. One assassin has already said. Yes the plan is on schedule, I just need more time. A few weeks and I can the dragonlord in the proper place. Yes, I can expedite the trial, I just need to talk to the buffon."
"Grand Ruler?" whispered Nightwing, "And let me guess, League of shadows."
Nightwing put a little recorder to listen, letting more of the conversation go on. Stepping quietly, he found some stairs leading into a basement and a few floors. Looking to his side, he saw a small hallway leading to a chamber, "Impressive, but what is it?"
Stepping in, he saw four daggers, each one coated in blood. Curious, he picked the left most one and snuck out.
A few arrows shot passed him as an assassin looked around,"Man, I love shooting the breeze!"
Nightwing paused and moved to hide back in the shadows, keeping quiet, "Did he see me?"
The assassin looked around,"You know, it's times like these when I love the night shift." He pulled out a phone, and began to text,"Most of the guys don't normally let me text my daughter."
Nightwing shook his head, letting the guy text his daughter. It was easy sometimes to forget that these mooks, henchman, and soldiers were human. The bat had always installed in him a bit of compassion for his enemies, reminding that they all had a family in someway. "Guess that's why I don't kill."
For minute, he flashed back to a scene just a year ago.
(Beast Boy walked in, sniffing cake. When he opened the door, he saw his old team smiling in the old tower, holding a birthday cake for him.)
Nightwing shook his head, "I'll find you gar." Pausing a moment, he wondered f should interrogate him. Choosing not to, he slunk along the shadows as the assassin began to type.
There was a sound of a silencer going off in a far-away room.
Sneaking, Nightwing risked a look inside, "What is he doing, training an army in here?"
There was a dead assassin in a chair, with a note on his chest.
He pulled out the note and read it to himself.
"Who desires to touch the gods?
Who desires to find the dragons?
Who's arms stretch over the world?
Can you find the answer, birdboy?"
"A riddle, but he isn't... no, he can't be. He's still locked up," Nightwing whispered to himself as he made his way back up stars and to where he dropped off his recording tool, before slinking off to the window.
"Hey, do you feel a breeze?" an assassin said.
"Did you forget your undies again?"
"No!"
“Oh sure, that one time!" said another assassin.
One more shook his head, "And I quit working for the Joker for this."
"Due, you worked with the Joker? How did you survive!?" Another said.
The guard smiled and said, " I ran when I found out my name was next on Die Bingo
"Wow, and I thought my brother was kidding about that one!"
Nightwing could only sigh at the guards talk, trying his best not to find something juicy to record for later.
Phoenix walked into the center, only to see Harvey Kent speaking to Rhymey.
"Now, what do you know of the victims?" Harvey asked
Rhymey chuckled and shrugged his shoulders, "Nothing that I could ascertain,
That much is curtain.
They were all archelosits and couples of sorts
Mothers and sons, lovers, and cohorts.
But why ask me?
Innocent I may be
Why not spy
On my Fluttershy
She might be a killer more than I
Lives snuffed out and I don't know why.
Harvey frowned,"Let me tell you this, Rhymey, I know you did it, I know you're a monstrous criminal, and I'm willing to do anything in my power to take you and your father down, even if it takes others down with you." He got up and walked to Phoenix,"You can talk to him if you wish."
"Monster? I am a monster to you?
Maybe you should stay to what is true.
"
"Hello Mr. Wright, what a sight.
(Does he have to rhyme every time we talk?)" Rhymey, will you take a look at this,"Phoenix's magatama glowed, showing the Psyche-Locks,
"It's a spiritual object.
What is with the subject?"
"Um, I meant to show this?" He pulled out the cellphone and gave it to him,(Man, I must be tired.)
Phoenix smiled, seeing one of the locks break ,"Do you recognise those people"
"I...never saw them before in my life
This is all causing me strife," said Rhymey, shaking his head.
"Really, then, how about a list a friend found at your home?"
You must be remiss,
What list?"
Phoenix pulled out a list,"this one, perhaps?"
Rhymey looked away, trying his best to remain calm, "I...don't know about it."
"Really, then why was your DNA found at the murder site?" Phoenix asked.
"Well, um" Rhymey paused, and looked at the video, trying to not look at him in the footage, "It was planted. We must relented."
"Really? And who would have planted it? What, and how could they have gotten the tech to do this? We can hardly use a normal camera on these phones, much less a camcorder." Phoenix said(He's losing his rhymes.)
"Tech based villains there are many
They could be as good as any.
As for who could planted,
It could be unexpected," he said, shaking his head while trying to hide his trembling.
“Oh, really? Then why would they frame you and Fluttershy, you two don't seem that important at all." Phoenix smirked. His mentor, Mia, had always told him to appeal to a witness' ego in a pinch.
"We are very important, well at least I am to this
That detail shouldn't be hard to miss."
"So, you're telling me that you'd be hurt if someone were to find out a deep dark secret of yours?"
Another shatter, and he began to sweat, "S-s-secret?
"Yeah, and it would suck if those Archeologists were to find something out about your family you'd want to keep secret, wouldn't it?"
"Secret, my family kept
If that were true, I would wept!
"Your rhyming is your way of keeping your secret, isn't it!? That's why you're rhyming is starting to turn bad."
"B-b-bad?
My rhyming bad?
"Yeah, I've seen some people who can actually rhyme, they've practiced enough to do it without messing up like you are now!"
I am not messing up
NOW SHUT UP!
You think you know everything? You think you are figuring out? My friend, you have no idea. I may have killed, but it was for a good cause, one that was deemed worthy by god," chuckled Rhymey. Then he paused as he shook his head, "No! I mean I didn't..."
Phoenix smiled,”You just confessed.”
Rhymey backed up, "I...confessed nothing. All I meant was the kills I did with the monsters, that is before I lost the powers."
"Why would you want to talk about monsters? That has nothing to do with this case."
"Because monsters are very important, I wanted to let you know that I did not kill those five people and any killing I may talk about is all about the monsters!"
"I never said you killed five people." Phoenix said.
Rhymey smirked, "You are a clever bastard, aren't you."
Phoenix scratched the back of his head,"Well, Miles tends to tell me that sometimes." he said with a chuckle.
Rhymey sat back, chuckling as he shrugged his shoulders, "Do you think I want to be found innocent? That I care about how the case turns out for me? Either way, I will get away from all of this. Fluttershy on the other hand...is the one I want to see imprisoned.
"Why do you want to see her imprisoned so bad?" Phoenix asked.
Rhymey chuckled, "For more, personal reasons. After all she is very useful behind bars to us all. Especially the fate of the world."
"A lot of people are important to the fate of the world." Phoenix frowned,"What do you mean?"
"Oh, you can't expect me to give out all of the secrets. Just know that Fluttershy is part of something bigger. One that will finally bring true justice to this world and make people like you obsolete."
"I think there's always a place for people of justice." Phoenix said, then he narrowed his eyes,"I'm going to defend Fluttershy, and I'm going to declare her not guilty."
"You'll fail. She'll be found guilty and then we can use her like she should be used," Rhymey said, smirking. "Then this world will have true justice. The sinners will be wiped out. Justice, isn't that what you want?"
Phoenix frowned,"Your justice, and mine are obviously two different things."
"What is the difference? You want the innocents to thrive, and I am hoping to wipe out the sinners," smirked Rhymey.
Phoenix frowned,"And who do you consider sinners?"
"Those who commit sins: Murder, Stealing, Lying, rape, blasphemy, and leaving insulting comments on good fanfics."
"Wouldn't that make you a hypocrite, then? Due to the people you, yourself killed?" Phoenix glared at him.
Rhymey shrugged, holding up his hands, "Sinners are no more human than a dog. Would you call the monsters rangers fight no worthy of killing? Would you consider the Joker human?
Phoenix narrowed his eyes,"Everyone has a right to live. Who are you to play judge, jury, and executioner? And what did those people ever do?"
"Me, I am part of the group that has views and judged this world, and found it wanting. As for those people, nothing...we just needed them," Rhymey said with a smirk. "Their deaths...were a necessity
"A necessity,?" Phoenix frowned,"You killed innocent people just to further your own goals!"
"For the good of all. You cannot tell me you never had to make some...sacrifices of your own to see the world a better place and to come forth with your outcome?"
Phoenix sighed, before placing his hands on the desk,"I think I'm done here."
"Did I touch a nerve? Did I remind you of something you did wrong? What, did you get an innocent person in trouble?" chuckled Rhymey. "Can’t fight sinners without sinning yourself."
Phoenix snarled,"I said, we're done!"
"You should listen to the man, Boy." A deep voice said to Rhymey.
"And who is that?" Rhymey asked watching Phoenix leaving.
Phoenix slowly turned, and saw the man, who's shades covered his face and hat covered his head,"I'm Judge Dredd, I came here to see the defendants."
Phoenix gulped,(He's scarier looking than Kent!)
"Um...hi?" squeaked Rhymey, seeing the face of the judge making him shiver.
The Judge looked him over, and frowned,"Right." He turned away and walked out before Phoenix.
"What was that?" Phoenix asked him.
"I like to gauge my defendants." Dredd walked to his car.
(Geez, I feel like he could crush me like a grape!)
Rhymey sighed and sat down, grumbling, "Big ape."
Unos sighed, whispering to himself, “For the greater good.” he said, before blocking a blade from a large monkey like beast with golden armor.
“What is the matter, Prince Unos? You seem distracted,” Goldar asked with a growl, spinning his blade in one hand. “Dreaming of conquests, or is your mind on girls?”
“Oh, ha, ha!” Unos chuckled, “Just come at me!” he beckoned his hand to Goldar. As he sparred with his mother’s soldier, his mind began to drift...
The rangers all stood, cheering on the Wild Force red ranger as he destroyed the massive serpent. The one that stood at the head of the team, helmet in the shape of a tyrannosaurus, smirk a little, “Good one rookie.”
A gloved hand was placed on his shoulder, “What, impressed Jason?”
“A little. If we had our zords...” Jason drifted off and chuckled. Then his ears perked and he looked around, “Do you guys hear-”
A watery voice shouted, “Look over there!”
Before the ten red rangers, a red light of energy beamed in. As the figure stepped out of the beam, clapping his hands, he began to speak with a low and sinister voice, “Bravo, bravo. You have defeated Mondo and wrecked my favorite killing machine. Bravo, power pests.” the being said as he formed from nothingness. His exposed muscles flexed and moved under the silver exoskeleton. Slowly. He clutched his clawed hand, “I suppose I should be saddened by this, mad even. But I find myself happy.”
“I don’t believe it,” Tommy said, shaking his head, “It’s Zedd!”
Jason growled, “And Rita’s with him.”
“Zeddie, do we have to go through this talk. The twins are getting antsy,” Rita said, stepping behind her husband. At her side were twin boys no less than ten, each holding onto her robe. All around her, he minions began to appear alongside a small army of putties.
Tommy looked behind him at his team and said, “Rangers get-”
“Parlay, I do not want to fight. Not right now,” Zedd said, chuckling under his faceplate.
One of the reds stepped forward, aiming his gun in the shape of a dino at Zedd, “And you expect us to believe you are here just for laughs.”
“Eric,” Wes said, “Maybe we should listen.”
One ranger wearing a red and white suit nodded, “Protocol states we need to listen and follow the rules. Sadly.”
“Carter has a point,” Zedd smirked, “Oh, don’t look like that, I know all of your names. I’ve been keeping an eye on my planet since the Z-Wave you know.”
Andros stepped up, growling, “How did you come back! The Z-Wave should’ve, it should’v-”
“Reformed us and killed all of the monsters, yadda yadda,” waved Rita, grumbling, before shaking her head, “It did work, for a bit.”
“The morphin grid is created by a balance of good and evil, say, myself and Zordon. Sure, the Z-Wave knocked me back to normal for a moment, but only for a moment. As one of you can attest, there will always be evil and always will there be rangers. So, I am immortal,” Zedd chuckled, “I just went into hiding with Rita here. Goldar went back home to his people, as did Baboo and Squatt and Finster.”
The white elf sighed, “I was assigned nanny duties.”
“Nanny, then that means,” gasped a red.
Rita laughed as she patted her two children on the head, “Seven years ago, the Machine Empire attacked, thinking they were stronger than us. They believed themselves to be more powerful than Zeddie was, but they were wrong. We would’ve stayed but, the red moron is a bit overprotective of his wife.”
“You, were in no condition to fight! You were with child,” Zedd said, smiling if he could.
Tommy gasped, “Then you left to-”
“Have the children off world and be raised by my mother. When the Z-Wave hit, we figured that was the best time to have a vacation and raise our children,” Rita smiled, rubbing her belly, “All three of them.”
One of the reds, one with a lion on his helm, pulled out his sword, “So, now you want war?”
“We can’t,” Cole said, landing, “My team is busy-”
“No, no war today, not all,” Zedd said, “Why should I have to fight for my planet?”
“It’s not your planet!” Eric growled.
Zedd chuckled, “Oh, but it is. I own it, I rule it, and I watch over it. It’s in my domain, and I have the best protectors of my world. You superheroes, who are all under my thrall.”
“We are not under your command!” Jason said, narrowing his eyes.
Zedd laughed, “Oh, but you are. After all, you protect this world from the invaders both in and out. You watch this planet to make sure that the innocents do not suffer, and you do what you can to keep it safe. Thus, you are protecting my world, and I don’t even have to conquer it officially. I can just sit back and let you do your jobs and you keep my world safe. For that, I thank you.”
Evey ranger felt their face pale at the thought, realizing the weight of what he just said. Tommy was the first to speak, “So what happens now?”
“A truce,” Zedd said, walking in front of the rangers, “As long as you protect my planet, no one from my family will send monsters, wage war, or attack you ever again. In exchange, this world will be under control of the Empire of Zedd.”
“And if we refuse?” asked JAson.
Zedd chuckled, “Your friend barely beat me with a lucky shot. At the power I am at now, only three of you would have a chance to survive. And that is not including my wife.”
Rita’s hands glowed with power, “Want to think about it for a moment.”
Tommy said nothing, looking back at Jason. Jason let out a sigh before saying, “We accept...”
“Defeat!” Goldar said, laying on his back and Unos having his blade at his throat. “You just keep improving, my lord.”
“Thank you, Goldar,” Unos said, helping the monkey up and walking to a towel. Grabbing it, he began to wipe the sweat from his brow.
Gloldar walked behind Unos, “You still seemed troubled.”
“Just thinking,” Unos said, sighing. “About our treaty with the rangers. Do you think it was the right thing?”
Goldar sighed, “I refuse to question Lord Zedd’s plans, it usually ends up badly.” This made Unos chuckle a bit, and then Goldar continued, “It has allowed us to relax up here. I have even made friends with the Pink one and in return she gave me beefy mac and helped me with Scorpina.”
“But does it make us seem weak?” asked Unos, walking away. “We are one of the most powerful empires in the galaxy, and here we are thinking of how the rangers help us! You are talking romance and I... am stuck here.”
Goldar patted Unos on his back and sighed, “Sometimes a great leader needs to do what he must in order to win. Lord Zedd knows this and that is why he set this up, so he can win without losing any more monsters, or his children.”
“Esmeralda doesn’t see it like that, she’s eager to start following in Father’s footsteps,” Unos looked down at his sword, “And I can’t. And now I-”
“Now what?” Lord Zedd asked, stepping into the room. After Goldar bowed and walked away, the Emperor looked at his son, “Is there something you are not telling me? Perhaps something to do with Mystic Island?”
“N-no father, I was just thinking of my place in the empire and what it means to follow in your footsteps,” Unos said, looking down and shaking his head.
Zedd placed his hand on his son’s shoulders, “Unos, you have a place in my empire. As first born, you are meant to rule it alongside Dos and protect it.”
“Father, you say that but you know Esmeralda has more power than me. She is magical and I am not! She is everything I am not, so how can you say I am destined for anything but to be her sword,” Unos asked.
Zedd looked at his son’s eyes, “And what is wrong with that? Your ancestor Fedd was his sister’s sword, and so was Kedd. Both are respected members of our family.”
“But not leaders,” Unos said.
“But were great in their time,” Zedd said, giving his son a hug, “And do not worry about the treaty. It never included you.”
Unos looked shocked at this as he said, “Wait, Father do you know...” he sighed as he teleported to Gallant’s lair.
“So, who did you summon,” asked Unos.
Gallant smirked, “Wait, and you will see.”
Sunset moaned as she slammed her head on the desk,"I've still got nothing here!"
Madylin sighed and patted Sunset on the back, "You got this! How long till the trial?"
"About... three days from now."
"Oh, but I still think you have this. I mean, you got a good lawyer and Nightwing on your side!"
"Yeah, but.. the wait is excruciating."Sunset moaned.
Unos looked up at the screen to see a skeleton in camo sitting by a tree and looking up at the sky, “Uncle Rito?”
“Close, but not quite. This is Gasha Skull, he was once in a world where his father killed the rangers and he was free to rule as he pleased,” Gallant said, smiling. “But he was unhappy and has since been traveling to find the place he belongs. This was after killing his father.
Junior transformed into his human mode as he watched Rainbow Dash come in, guitar in her hand. She had a smile on her face as she sat with him, “Ah, you’ve come to play. Still thinking about your loyalty?”
Rainbow Dash sighed, “Yeah, and about Flutters. She’s in trouble and I can’t even...I want to help her but she's so far away.”
“Yeah, I get it,” Junior said, sighing, “I was the same way. My father gave me everything, and I still was lonely and lost. I mean, what is the point of anything when it’s easy.”
Dash frowned, “What is the point of anything when you seem to get separated from it all. Or they all leave you behind.” she sighed. “Can’t even talk to anyone about it.”
“Sing, sing about it.” Junior said, “Or play...”
Dash smirked as she began to strum her guitar.
Nightwing sat on the computer, typing up daggers and linking up with Oracle. In his mind, he saw Fluttershy in jail, whimpering. He let loose a small growl as he began to look over all of the records he had on file. Sigih, he began to sing to himself
Where is the justice,
when the guilty all go free?
Why do innocents and others
suffer such tragedy
Harry laughed as he looked at a picture of his son and Fluttershy. With a slow chuckle, he began to sing as he played with a small dagger,
What you see is his impatience
With the noble compromise;
Rainbow Dash growled as she started playing harder on guitar, allowing the chords to carry through her pain and emotions. Her eyes began to see Fluttershy in her jail, trembling.
"You'll stay with me?
"Protect me"
"Why did you abandon me."
Show me what’s right about the wrongs that we allow,
Real people need to feel protected here and now;
This whole damn system is broken way beyond repair,
It’s just law,
Not law and order;
Not much good and seldom fair;
Phoenix held up his lawyer badge, covering one side of his face
Laws were made for everyone,
We’re treated all the same;
Harvey looked at a picture of Harry, and tore in two,
Till a lawyer’s tricks convicts the blame;
Nightwing sighed and began to look again. Turning around he looked outside at the rising sun on the second day. Slowly he began to shake his head. Rainbow Dash began to think about Harry and Rhymey, which seemed to spur her on the next verse
Let the corporations make the regulations,
And all go uncountable when everything goes wrong;
But the rich and famous get away with murder;
Every time a high-priced mouthpiece starts to talk,
His client gets to walk;
Tell me where is the justice?
If there’s any justice;
Where is the justice,
For all the victims?
Where is the justice?
What good is law that can’t punish those who break it?
Harvey looked out the window, flipping his coin.
Rarity looked at her dress, her mistakes glowing her face as her mind began to wander. She began to become torn between her awards and the life she wanted, as well as her friends
Politicians make their speeches all day long;
While judges pushing pencils mostly get it wrong;
Harvey pulled out a briefcase, and opened its double locks.
Instead of loopholes for the laws to fall between;
That’s a good old fashioned payback,
Grease the wheels of a machine
Isn’t everybody sick to death of all this stuff,
Can’t we all stand up and say enough?
Applejack sang looking up to sky as she punched her palm.
Rainbow Dash began to belt out her lyrics, her anger rising
Listen to the families hiding in their houses;
All of them afraid to walk the street at night,
With all the doors locked tight;
Nightwing finished, singing to himself as he walked to Sunset's hone
We must give them their justice;
We owe them some justice;
Where is the justice?
Sunset whistled as she typed on her computer.
Grey Son knocked on the door, "You in?"
"Yes!?" Sunset closed her cat video tab.
"You were watching cat videos?" Grey son said, looking at her weirdly.
Sunset looked down,"They're addicting. What brings you here, Mr. Son?"
“First off," Grey said, sitting down and looking at her, "I felt this strange urge to sing earlier. Know anything about it?"
"Uh, that happens around here." Sunset shrugged,"I pay it no mind."
Grey son sighed and shook his head, before laying a dagger onto Sunset's table, "Magic. From what I've been researching. This was what Rhymey used to kill the latest couple."
"Magic?" Sunset looked at the dagger.
"That's what I figured, and it might be linked with that discovery a few weeks back, about that dragon seal?
Sunset looked over the dagger,"Hmm," she began typing into her computer,"Let me see..."
'Legend of Exhaust,"
Grey son gasped, "Wait, I heard that legend from a friend of mine. She said that a pair of dragon slayers sealed him up. The dragonlords."
"Yeah, I've been hearing all about these dragonlords." Sunset said,"Been trying to look up more about them."
"Well, from what I've heard," Grey son began to tell Sunset the story.
Sunset thought about the story,"Okay, but why is Rhymey so interested in them? What does he want?"
Grey son took the mouse and scrolled down, "The story of the unsealing. It is said, that the blood of six strong bonds are the first step to unsealing the dragon. Five daggers of blood of people having a strong bond must be laid, then the blood of a descendant of a dragon lord and the one she has the strongest bond with must coat the sigil of the shield on Hallows Eve to awaken the dragon."
Sunset let out a gasp,"Daggers, bonds? Oh, Celestia, Rhymey's trying to do the Unsealing!"
"Yeah, and why do I think his father is involved in this as well, along with whoever else is behind this," Grey son said, looking at the screen.
"Who else could be behind this?" Sunset asked.
"And organization called the League of Shadows," Grey Son said.
"Yeah, wait a minute, how do you know about them!?" Sunset asked, “A teacher shouldn't know these things."
Grey Son was gone, leaving behind a tape recorder.
Sunset blinked,"Where did he go?" She picked up the tape recorder,"And why did he leave this behind?"
The tape began to play, "And Master, I have everything under control. Just give me until the trial and then Fluttershy can be in the bag. The last of the dragonlords...and then we can complete the ritual...Yes, master.
Sunset bit her lip,"I need to show the others this."
Dr. Nonaka walked into the detention center,"Fluttershy?"
"Y-yes?" Fluttershy asked
Dr. Nonaka sat down,"I'm here to check up on you. I can't imagine how harrowing this is for you."
"It's terrifying," Fluttershy said, sitting down. "Everypony is doing something to try and help me. They are all trying to prove I didn't do it. But I feel, so alone here.
Nonaka put a hand on the glass,"You're not alone."
(“We'll see each other again someday" A little girl said to a group of four other children)
"You'll always have your friends to help you."
Fluttershy looked down, "How can you be so sure, we just seems so...distant lately. Sunset is off on her own, Twilight is untouchable, Rarity barely talks to us, Applejack seems so alone, and Dash..." she looked down at the mention of her name and siffled, "Hasn't come seen me."
"Things look bad, I know." Nonaka sighed,"But, some things are just a part of adulthood. They are all just trying to find their place in life." She looked down,"But I've lived long enough to know that things do get better." She looked up,"Tell me, do you fear change?"
"Fear change?" asked Fluttershy. Shaking her head, she said, "I never really thought about it. I hope that we can always stay the same, but, change is natural it happens in the animal kingdom and in real life. You can't stop it."
"And the only way we can move on, is if we adapt to change." Nonaka said with a sigh,"Remember, there is always hope."
Fluttershy sighed and leaned against the window, rubbing her hand along the glass. A small tear running down her cheek, "It's just getting hard to find when the ones you place the most hope in, seems to get away. That's the part of change I hate, losing them. Even Rainbow...I thought she would always be there, be she ran from me...
"You'll never lose your friends." Nonaka said immediately,"Sure they'll be far away, but they'll always be there for you. I don't know what Rainbow Dash is doing, but I'm sure even she will come to you when you need her the most."
"Are you sure?"
Nonaka smiled, and gave a nod,"Take it from someone who's been through a lot more than you'd think.
"What have you been through?" Fluttershy asked.
(A teenage girl sighed as she looked at her digivice,"I miss them.")
"... adventures." Nonaka smiled,"Trust me, you and your friends do remind me of my own."
"We do?" Fluttershy asked
"Yes, me and my friends had plenty of adventures together. And we too had trouble deciding our path."
"You did?" Fluttershy whispered, "What happened?"
"We ended up using our digital monsters to fight horrible abominations of nature that if I were to describe would give you nightmares for weeks." She chuckled,"Actually, it's real life stuff that I can't really share with you."
Fluttershy sighed and looked down, "Did you ever reunite with your friends?"
Nonaka thought for a moment,"Some of them, others... are more distant than you'd think."
"I see," Fluttershy sighed and looked up, "Think my friends will be able to come back?"
Nonaka nodded,"I'm positive that they will."
Fluttershy lowered her head and looked down.
Applejack opened the door and sighed, "Thanks, Sweetie Belle."
"You're welcome Applejack. I figured if anyone could get in there, it would e you. She's been in her creating room for day. Only comes out to eat or to cook for me."
"Still won't let ya near the stove?" Applejack joked.
Sweetie Belle lightly kicked the ground and gumbled, "One time, burn it down one time."
Letting out a sigh, the teenager walking to the stairs and walked up to the landing. Once at the top, she looked to her left at the room where Rarity usually worked and slowly opened it. When she did, she saw Rarity sprawled out on the bed, clothes and papers strewn all over her, "Lands sake girl. Can't keep a room clean, can ya?"
Rarity said nothing, snoring away.
Applejack moved some of the clothes and papers away, before crawling onto the bed. Playfully she whispered, "Your knight is over you. He has just saved you from a monster."
"Mmmmm?" Rarity mumbled in her sleep.
"He now looks into your eyes," Applejack said, watching as Rarity smiled. "Slowly, leaning over you, he leans in, ready to kiss you."
Rarity pucked her lips, and nodded.
"And then he slowly leans in, and kisses you like this," Applejack said, leaning in, and then tickeling her, waking Rarity up.
After finishing giggling, Rarity shot up and straightened her see through nightgown. Frowning at Applejack, she said, "Applejack, you shouldn't wake ladies up like this!"
"Hey, you were the one who wouldn't wake up and get her butt out of the bed," Applejack said, shaking her head. "What is all of this?"
"Oh, just the project I've been working on for the Hart Foundation Fashion scholarship," Rarity said, looking at the models and outfits in the pictures.
Applejack opened her eyes wide, "The Heart foundation? You mean that one group that's been giving out scholarships to special students to help with their dreams? That one! The one run by Kimberly Hart?!"
"The same," Rarity smiled, "I just got my letter of acceptance a few months back. We are all to offer some of our best designs to see who will be in the final picks. Then we will all get to go to someplace special for the final parts to earn it. I've just been-"
"So focused you have been forgetting the rest of us," Applejack said, "Look I can understand you and Sunset, but-"
"I am not ignoring you," Rarity said, shaking her head. "It's just that I have been busy with this. This is my dream and very important to me."
Applejack looked down, "Rares... Flutters is in jail."
"What?" Rarity gasped.
"They arrested er because they think she killed somebody," Applejack said. "Sunset, some lawyer, and a few others are trying to find out the truth. Ah don't know much but that is what's been going on."
Rarity shook her head in disbelief, before growling a little and clenching her fists, "It's not fair."
"Wha-"
"It's not fair," Rarity said, shaking her head, "Only a few people would get a chance like this, and I wanted to put my all into it! Now you are telling me my best friend is in trouble. I have to sacrifice my dreams, just to save my friend?"
"Sugar, nobody's asking you to-"
"Well, what else do you call this?" Rarity said, shaking as she felt the tears run down her cheek, "If I stay and work, I'll be considered a bitch for abandoning her. And if I leave this behind now... I'll lose my chance to get into the school of my dreams."
"Rarity, there'll be other chances," Applejack said, holding Rarity's hand, and patting it.
"Oh, don't make it sound so easy!" Rarity said, shaking her head, "We don't all have our marks on our flanks, we don't immediately get the schools or just have the money handed to us." Another sniffled, "Some of us have to work for it, and we don't always have the time. Monsters, world attacks, being a hero, it can be just so much..."
"I envy you, Applejack," Rarity said with a sigh before leaning into her best friend.
Applejack looked confused as she held Rarity close to her, running a hand through her purple hair, "Envy?"
"You have your dream handed to you, you can just quit and become a farmer. Some us...we have to work for it," Rarity sniffled before sighing.
Applejack shook her head and sighed, "Look, Rares, Ah can't say it's always gonna be easy, but with hard work you know you can make it, right? Look, Ah'll fill you in and check on Flutters, you just work on this, ok?"
"All right, Applejack," Rarity said, looking up and smiling at her. Then she kissed Applejack playfully on the cheek ,"You are a true friend."
"Yeah," Applejack said smiling a little as she walked away, "A true friend." once she walked out of the house, she punched the wall. "DAMN IT!"
Rainbow Dash leaned against her bike, looking up at the blue sky, "Maybe I should go... there's no point is there?"
"Point in what?" Twilight asked as she walked up to her.
"Staying," Rainbow Dash said, looking down and shaking her head.
Twilight frowned,"Are you thinking of leaving?"
"Yeah," Dash said quietly
"Why?" Twilight asked, with a frown.
Rainbow Dash looked away, "Why not? It seems that we are all just growing further apart lately. We;re all going to be separate soon, and way too far away for my taste! Even you’re acting more distant!"
Yeah, well, there's a lot going on in my life right now." Twilight sighed,"I figured. Even you're starting to give up easy."
Dash shook her head, "I'm not giving up easy! It's just that-" she paused.
"What?" Twilight glared at her.
"I'm supposed to be loyal. Some sort of Element of Loyalty and yet...I'm just not fast enough. I can’t be there for everyone! I can't be there to save or help anyone!" Dash growled. "You know I want to be a member in the air force? To be a member of the Blue Angels? That's because with that speed, I can be anywhere, be the hero you all need. But, it just feel," she clenched her hands, cutting into her palms, "So hard right now. We're all just so distant!”
"And you don't want to do anything about, you just want to run away?"
"What can I do?" Dash said, throwing her hands up in the air, "I can't phase through solid walls. Can't bust things down, and I can't just tell everyone to stay here!"
"Then be a quitter, if that's going to be your answer." Twilight walked away.
Dash yelled to the leaving Twilight, "Fine, maybe I will!"
"Yeah, and just leave it all behind, where no one will ever care about you."
"Hey! People do care about me, just like we care about you!" Dash yelled.
"No you don't otherwise you wouldn't be leaving!" Twilight screamed.
Dash waved her off, "Whatevs, I'm bouncing." she said, before getting onto her bike and driving off.
For a few minutes, she drove through the streets of Mystic Island. Around her, the people and the lights passed her by in a blur of colors. Her magenta eyes rolled in rage as she let out a small growl as drove one trying her best to lock an image out her head, "I hate it when they leave! Why!? Can't that just-GAHHHH!" she roared as he increased the speed of her bike.
After traveling for a few moments, she paused at a hill and looked out, "What are you doing out here?" asked Applejack.
"Thinning, planning," Dash said, crossing her forearms over her chest.
Applejack shook head, "Well, stop. Sunset kind of wants us to go and talk about what we gathered."
"And then what?" Dash asked
"And then? Then we save ot friend, help Madylin, and-"
"Then we go through high school and then graduate and then we all seperate. You go and become a farmer, Sunset will do whatever, Rarity becomes a fashion designer and yadda yadda." Rainbow Dash frowned and shook her head.
"Yeah, that's life and a part of growing up," Applejack said, looking at Dash.
"Yeah, and I don't mind that... it's the leaving part that pisses me off," Rainbow Dash said, kicking the ground, "My Mom. My Grandma. It just feels like everyone in my life just leaves. And now Fluttershy."
"Sugarcube, you know we'll save her," Applejack said. "It's' what we do for each other."
"And then what?" Dash growled, "Wait for the next threat? Wait for someone else to leave, or take her away from us. I promised to protect her and I failed."
Fluttershy sighed as she snuggled up to Rainbow. A warm smile on her lips as she held her friend's hand, "Thank you."
"For what?" Dash asked.
"Standing by me, believing me." Fluttershy said. "Any sane person would have run or thrown me aside."
"Hey, you know me Flutters, I'll always be there to protect you," Rainbow Dash said with a warm smile."No matter what happens, I'll watch over you and keep you safe."
The door opened, and the police came in, "Excuse us, we need to take the suspect back."
"Wait, what?" Dash shouted, "But I thought she could stay under house arrest with me."
The cop rolled his eyes , "Yeah, but apparently someone wants to follow the laws of everywhere but here."
Dash clenched her fist, "You didn't see the hurt in her eyes, AJ. You didn't see how she looked when she saw that I couldn't help her."
"And for that, you are thinking of what, just quitting?" Asked Applejack.
"I...don't know. It's just that it feels like everyone leaves. I'm supposed to be loyalty and it's like... that's the hardest thing out there to be. People always seem to leave," Dash said looking down.
"And what's the prob-"
"I can't save anyone when they are away from me!" Rainbow Dash said, hitting the bike with her hand. "They leave, get hurt, and I'm just stuck here."
"Rainbow, Ah-"
"Look, I just need a moment to clear my head," Rainbow said, sighing. "Just head to the meeting and I'll catch up."
Applejack sighed and nodded. Then she turned and walked towards Sunset's apartment, "Hey Twilight!"
Twilight sat by a lamppost, mumbling to herself.
"What are ya waiting around here for? Sunset said she wants us all to be there when she talks the clues," Applejack asked.
"Huh, oh, sorry." Twilight muttered,"I thought I'd be the only one here."
"You thinking about something?" asked Applejack.
"No, not at all." Twilight said quickly.
Sunset left the apartment,"Hey, Is it only you two?
"Yeah, right now," Applejack said, before looking back at the apartment, "Too small?"
"Hey guys!" Pinkie said, running to the group, her bskr outfit covered in flour
"Yeah..." Sunset looked at Pinkie,"What's with the flour?"
"Job-" she spat out a little of the flour, "interview went well and I had to show my baking skills."
"Wow." Sunset muttered,"Anyone else coming?"
"Rarity's," Applejack sighed, "Busy. and Dash isn't sure she’s coming. She needs time to think."
"Of course." Sunset rolled her eyes,"You know, we'd get things done faster if everyone just came!"
Madylin quipped, "Oh my, everyone cumming?"
"Sunset, it's not their fault that it seems that their lives are just getting in their way all of the time," Applejack said looking down, "Probably the only ones that got any free time anymore are Dash, me, Pinks and Twilight."
Sunset muttered,"Still annoying." She sighed,"Alright, I've got a lot of clues, and I think I know why Rhymey's after Fluttershy." She went on to explain her findings.
"WHAT?!" all of the gathered girls shouted.
Pinkie's eyes widened, "But, what will happen to Fluttershy after he uses her blood?"
"That's what I'm worried about." Sunset frowned,"I don't think Rhymey's planning on letting Fluttershy live."
"You don't really think he'll kill her," asked Pinkie.
"Would you put it past him?" Sunset asked
"No, not really," Applejack said, shaking her head. "Not after everything that has been happening and especially not from him."
"Does Phoenix know?" asked Pinkie.
Madylin, looked ahead, "The real question, is would he believe it?"
"Believe what?" Phoenix said, walking up to them.
"That Fluttershy is being put under this trail with Rhyme so that his father and the organization that he works for can take her to a European country and use her blood along with the the blood of the other murders in order to summon an ancient dragon from the ancient times to kill the entire planet ane wipe out all life as we know it," Applejack said.
"That... is very... strange." Phoenix gulped,(What did I get myself into?)
"So, what now?" asked Applejack.
"Well, as a defense attorney,I have to remain as neutral as possible, so I can't directly go against Rhymey, that would be Kent's job. but when the day of the trial arrives, I will do my best to get Fluttershy off of her sentence."
Pinkie looked pleadingly at Phoenix, "Please!"
Phoenix smiled, and gave a thumbs up,"I promise!"
Pinkie smiled as she happily hugged Phoenix. Applejack looked to Twilight and whipseed,"Are you all right?"
"Fine." Twilight muttered.
"Are you surrre?" Pinkie asked with a wide smile.
Rainbow Dash drove her bike to the outskirts of town and looked up. Her magenta eyes gazed overhead at the cloudless blue sky. As she ran her and through her hair, she heard "If you are expecting the blue guy, he's not here." Grey Son said.
"Oh, hey prof, what brings you here?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Could ask you the same thing," Grey said, "Thought you had a meeting with your friends to talk about Fluttershy."
"We are, I'm just...thinking," Rainbow said, frowning.
"You're running," Grey said.
Rainbow frowned and shook her head, "I'm not running! I'm just facing facts! We win this and then what? Just wait for the next monster or whatever to fight, and then we just go our separate ways? How can I protect anybody when it seems we all just leave in the end?"
"Let me tell you a story that my friend Nightwing once told me," Grey said.
Robin stood in front of the group, awaiting the reaction from his team. Letting out a sigh, he ran his hand through his spiky black hair as he heard, "You're leaving!?"
"Richard, if this is about us," Starfire whispered, looking away from his pupiless gaze.
"No, it's not that," Robin said, trying to put on his best smile (Never let them see how this hurts)
"Then why?" whipped Beast boy, his eyes brimming with tears.
"Well, me and Batman are having some problems at home and I have been hearing that he's training a new Robin. So, maybe it's time I put away childish things," Robin said, looking down and reaching for his mask.
"It's not childish to want to help people!" shouted Beast Boy.
Before the green teen could utter another word, Cyborg spoke up, crossing his forearms over his chest and leaning back, "I hear ya, you want to find yourself. You want to grow up."
"I was 12 when I put this on, guys," Dick said, removing his mask and putting it on the table. "Since then, I've been known as the boy wonder, boy hostage, and so much more. I haven't really answered who Dick Grayson is yet. Wally is Flash now, Donna is moving on with her name and Roy... has problems."
As Dick continued to remove his costume, Raven floated down and put her hand onto his shoulder, "Dick don't forget, if you need help from us on this. If there is anything we could-"
"I know Rae," Dick said, takin her hand in his, smiling "I know. I just need time to think, to become an adult and I can't do that while jumping around the city wearing an old outfit I've grown out of. So, yeah," he said, turning away from them, "Take the suit, set up a museum or something. I'll... see you around."
"And that was the beginning of how he became Nightwing," Grey said.
"Wait, so he just left the team?" Rainbow dash said, "What happened then?"
"Robin retired too soon. It wasn't long after that that the team was caught and he became Nightwing to save his friends," Grey said, looking down. "But, I think you should understand the point of the story."
"And that is," Rainbow asked.
"Now matter what happens... if you are determined enough, you can save your friends. Loyalty isn't something that is broken by distance," Grey said, getting on his blue bike, "Now...let's race.
Twilight glared at Pinkie,"Yes, I am sure."
"Are you really sure? Because someone looks really grumpy!" Pinkie said.
"Leave me alone." Twilight growled,.
Pinkie backed up a little and looked down, "Um, ok Twilight. I just wanted to help you out of your funk."
"She's probably feeling just as bad as we are about Fluttershy," Applejack said, looking down and shaking her head, "Two more days... Don't think Rainbow can wait that long."
"She's going to have to." Sunset said with a frown."And maybe wait a few more days if the trial goes a little longer."
Applejack shook her head, "Yeah, that's why I am saying it. She is getting impatient. Almost afraid that she wants to run from this."
Pinkie Pie gasped, "What, she can't do that,can she?"
Sunset frowned,"Do I have to go over and knock some sense into her?" she cracked her knuckles.
"Well, if you don't...I will, I can be really good at convincing!" Pinkie said, bouncing. Then she looked at Twilight, "and you can join in!"
Twilight shook her head,"I tried to talk to her, she won't listen. Just forget about her, she won't follow her morals."
"Hey! We ain’t leaving anyone behind Twilight," Applejack said, putting her hand onto her shoulder.
Pinkie Pie nodded, "Yeah, we're just separating for a little bit."
Twilight looked away,"I don't believe you." she muttered.
"What?" Pinkie said, "How can you not believe us!"
Madylin nodded, "Yeah, they told me what you girls have been through so much."
"None of it matters." Twilight frowned,"In fact, why did I even come!?" She turned and walked away.
"Twilight!" Pinkie said, running towards her as she left."
"Sunset, you want to talk to her or Dash?" Applejack asked
Sunset gave a nod,"I'll talk to Dash, she seems easier to convince.”
"Right, Ah'll talk to Twi," Applejack said, shaking her head, "Don't have time for this.
Sunset got on her bike,"None of us do, really, but we can't get anything done without them." She put her helmet on, and rode off to find Rainbow Dash.
On a hill overlooking the city, Rainbow Dash and Grey watched over the city, leaning against their bikes. Grey let out a sigh as he picked up a fallen leaf and let it fly around. Then he turned his eyes to look out, "Just what is up with this city?"
"What do you mean?" asked Dash.
"It only popped up six years ago, no rhyme or reason. It only exists now, and supposedly Grand Ruler is some sort billionaire? It just doesn't make sense," Grey said, shaking his head.
"Nothing really does. We make friends, family, only to leave them. How...how do you cope?" asked Dash.
"It's just something you have to accept," Grey said.
"I don't want to," Dash said, shaking her head, "My mom...she was one of the best pilots in the world. One day, she just went on a mission and never came home. No one said anything, dad never said a word, just became broken. And I was just left here. I just want to know, what's the point of being loyal, when people leave me."
Grey stood up as he heard a nike approaching, "My advice, find something to be loyal to, stay true to who are and believe in them. People are stronger than you think."
Nightwing watched in horror as Batgirl fell through the air. Struggling, he reached for her as he looked in horror. Then he read on her lips, "It's ok." Just before she fell onto the car, snapping her back.
"A lot stronger," Grey said, watching as another bike rode up, "I'll leave you two alone."
"Hey Sunset," Dash said.
Sunset got off of the bike,"Okay, whatever crisis you're going through right now, please hold off on it until after the trial's done?”
"This trial is part of my little crisis!" Dash said, and shaking her head she walked away from her bike. "How about you tell me, smart girl. What's the point of staying around and befriending when we are all just going to leave each other?"
"Simple, so we can have friends to go back to, to talk to when we need help!" Sunset said with a frown,"Is that why you're here and not with us? You're afraid?"
"Want me to say it? Yeah, I'm afraid!" Dash said, looking down, "Afraid of losing people, afraid of saying goodbye, and of just losing people. I'm afraid just not being there for the people who need me."
"You're not losing anyone. People are just... going away for a while." Sunset said,"It's not like they're gone forever.
Dash crossed her arms, "Sure feels like it. Like I'm losing everyone now: You, Twi... Flutters,' shs aid with a pause. Shaking her head, she looked back at her, "And if they go away, how can I be there for any of them."
"Then you keep moving. What, are you only able to stand? You've got legs, use them!" Sunset said with a glare.
Dash backed up from the glare. for a moment, she looked at Sunset's eyes, feeling the cold stare burrowing into her heart. Then she smirked as she sad, "You know I have more than that."
-------------------
"I'll protect you"
"I'll be there for her, no matter what," Dash said, smiling, "And for you, no matter where you go to!"
"Now that's what I want to hear!" Sunset smirked,"Now, are you going to sit here and mope, or are you going to come with me and kick some ass!?"
"Kick ass," Dash said, "And besides. Isn't moping and groaning about the system is what teenagers supposed to do?"
"Twi?" asked Applejack.
Twilight shouted from her door,"Go away!"
Applejack knocked on the door, "Come on Twi, Ah really think we need to talk.
"No! I'm tired of arguing!" Twilight shouted,"Just... leave me alone."
Applejack sighed, "Twilight, we don't really have to argue about this you know. We can talk over our problems. You've been kind of... distant ever since the year started."
(She hates you, you know?
She wants her friend, not you.)
"Distant? I'm not the distant one here, you all are!"
"Look, we all have our problems to deal with. Senior year, monsters, it's tough," Applejack said.
"..." Twilight remained silent.
Applejack sighed, "Our relationships are on threads, we're all getting ready to separate, it's like our lives will drift apart. Hey, some of us are facing questions that will affect us for the rest of our lives."
"Ma?" asked Applejack, "If Ah were to..."
"Yes hun?"
"Um, never mind"
"Lik me," Applejack said,shaking her head, "Ah don't even know if Ah want the responsibility of these power or just being everyone's pillar of strength. Rarity... she's the same way, she wants to follow her career but she's afraid of becoming something horrible. That beautiful gal, she don't-" she blushed and shook her head, "Ferget I called her beautiful, ok? Ah was just talking about how she is beautiful in spirit."
"The point is," Applejack said, leaning her back against the door, "This is our last year, we should be trying to spend the best of it together and the worst of it together. Now, Ah don't know what happened with you and Sunset, but this isn't the time."
(If only you were strong enough.
If only she really cared.
She is in love with er, but you can't get her.)
Twilight sighed,"And yet..." She opened the door,"You're right, Fluttershy needs me. I can keep away from my emotional issues for a little while because of that, at least."
"Yeah, and then we can talk over everything," Applejack said, smirking before giving Twilight a hug.
(This isn't for you.)
Twilight then whispered,”Let me have this.”
"Now, let's regroup with Sunset," Applejack said.
Dick sat in his apartment, his work clothes and costume thrown around in a messy pile of clothes. Sighing, he looked at the riddle that he had obtained,
"Who desires to touch the gods?
Who wishes to find the dragons?
Who's arms stretch over the world?
Can you find the answer, birdboy?"
"I know it's you, Nigma. That was one of your favorite nicknames for me when I was a kid. You aren't the type of guy to think me and Jason or Tim were the same Robin," he said, sitting on the back of the chair before doing a backward somersault onto the ground. Walking around the room, he began to think to himself, "But what is the meaning of the riddle? At first glance, one would say that it's talking about Rhymey and his dad... but Eddie isn't that easy. His riddles have a double meaning. But-"
a police siren alerted him. Smirk creeping along his face, Dick whispered, "Ahhh, good, a distraction."
A flash of light, and Dick was gone. Soon, Nightwing was swinging out from the apartment with a smile.
"Trip the alarms you said, it'll be fun you said. It'll make it more exciting!" grumbled one of the thugs as he shot at the police before going back into the getaway vehicle.
"It's what the boss wanted, something about luring out-" there was a thump on top of the car. "Someone he was positive was... here." The thug smiled as he aimed his gun and shot up into the roof of the car, making holes. Through the holes, a deep red liquid dripped out.
"Hey! Aw man, my daughter's going to kill me," the thug in the back said as they pulled the car into a hidden alleyway.
"Shame, now lets see the dead bird," said the thug as he stepped out and saw the bloody stain.
"Sorry to disappoint," Nightwing said in the shadows as he snatched one thug out of the shadows. A batarang took out one thug's hand. "But those were tomatoes. I was buying some groceries."
The last thug, the owner of the car looked around and be gant to fire wildly into the night. Panting, he backed up and slammed against Nightwing, "So...care to talk?"
"AHHHH!" The thug siad, getting to his knees, "Please don't swallow my soul. Raindrops and Snails, they needed me. I was only using my car because Riddler promised to pay me if I gave him a second escape vehicle."
'A second... no, it can't be." Dick shook his head before looking down at the thug. "You want me to spare your life? Run home to your daughter, tell her you love her, and then apply to Waynetech. I heard they offer jobs to mooks like you. Understand?"
"Yes sir!" The thug said, running away.
Dick smiled as he fired his grappling line onto the roof and swung out into the night.
-------------------------------------------------
"The plan worked like a charm," the thug said, giving out some blueprints to a figure, half obscured in shadows, "The bird never thought about a second vehicle."
"Good." The figure said,"Everything is in place. Rest now, we have a big day ahead of us."
"Yes sir..."
Sunset stared up at the night sky, frowning as she petted Coco,"This is going to be one of those nights, huh?"
"What do you mean?" asked Coco, yawning a little.
"I'm going to be without sleep just thinking about the trial." She sighed,"And how all my friends are about ready to fall apart. It frustrates me."
Coco sighed, "I know the feeling. Someone likes to be reading a lot!" she frowned at her sister.
"Hey, I am trying to figure out some things about trials!" Vanilla siad, going back to her book.
Coco patted her partner's leg, "Oh, it can't be that bad right? You've been together this long."
"Yeah, but not for much longer, I'm afraid." Sunset sighed,"I feel like I'm not doing enough for any of them. It doesn't help that Rarity's not talking to me.
Coco looked sadly at her partner, "But everyone else is still with you, right?"
"Barely. Rainbow's being scared, and the others, well, I don't know."
"What do you mean?" asked Coco.
"Pinkie's been busy, Applejack seems conflicted, Fluttershy is in jail, and Twilight... oh Twilight..." Sunset muttered,"Something's wrong with her, and I don't know what to do."
Coco gave Sunset a hug, "It'll be ok. You're strong, right?"
"It's not that simple," Vanilla said, shaking her head, "She's still feeling all alone and separated. Like she doesn't know how to fix things with her friends."
"Well," Sunset smiled,"I guess I can pull through, no matter what happens."
"Yeah, I mean...just because the others are separate right now," said Coco, "Doesn't mean you can't find a way to bring them all back. That's what you do best, isn't it?"
"I think you're right. I mean, someone has to figure out how to fix things, might as well be me." Sunset said.
Coco nodded and jumped up and landed on her head, "YEAH! That's the spirit!" she said with a smile.
"Besides, she probably isn't the one to give up," said Vanilla.
"Nope, I want to see this to the end. I'm going to keep going until I die, and even then, I'll punch my way out of Hell.
Vanilla looked up and gasped, "Please don't die!"
"Don't worry, I'm not going to die." Sunset smirked,"I'm too hot-headed."
Coco looked up and rubbed Sunset's forehead curiously.
"Not like that." Sunset chuckled, as she patted Coco.
Vanilla rolled her eyes,"And this is why I am the smart sister."
"Alright, let's get to bed.” Sunset said.
"You are not smarter," said Coc as she pulled back,
Sunset laid in her bed,"Good night."
Junior watched as Unos began to walk through the caves that comprised the lair of Gallany. With a curious look in his eye he asked, "Do I disturb you? Or disgust you, Lord Unos?"
"Yes, you do," Unos said, running a hand through his black hair and shaking his head,
"What?" asked Junior as he began to change, flash disintegrating to a large skeletal body. One half of him was covered in a camo attire while the other half was grey and atop his head was an army helmet, "Does this form make you think too much of that buffoon of an uncle that this universe version of me has become? Or is it something mre."
"You are an insult to my uncle," Unos said, "He would never had killed his father like you did!"
"From what I hear, your grandfather was a coward who ran when he started to lose one too many times," Gasha Skull said, smirking as one of the yellow eyes in his chest glowed. "Maybe my other half should've killed him."
Unos frowned, "And what, act like you?"
"I did what I had to," Skull said, "Having the entire world at my hands, having everything I wanted? It was boring. The old man was willing to just sit back and allow things to waste away, taking away the fun from the world."
"And you think killing is any better? Aren't you just searching for a purpose now?" asked Unos. "You are just-"
"Trying to discover a new purpose," Skull said, looking down. With a sigh he said, "All I am looking for is some excitement again. To feel alive like I did when I first conquered the world or took my father's life." He let out a chuckle, "It's interesting, we're alike in a way. I just want to find a new purpose, to feel like I am alive again, and you...y ou are trying to find a world to prove yourself, to be more than just your sister's sword."
"We're nothing alike." Unos said, looking away. "You are a thrill seeker without honor. And you are trying to push Dash into the same way."
"I'm just showing her the truth. That loyalty is nothing more than a lie."
---
Rainbow Dash sat on her bed, and looked at a picture of her mother, "Tomorrow is Fluttershy's trial, and that asswipe Rhymey's is today. Mom I," Dash shook her head, "I just don't know anymore, Mom. I know I told Sunset I would stay, and I would fight but I... its just so hard." a small tear roll down her cheek as she ran a finger along her mother' picture, looking at a small device that her mother wore. "Never did tell me what that thing was."
"Penny for your thoughts?" asked Blitz as he stepped into Rainbow's room.
"Hey Dad," Dash sighed, putting away the picture, "Just thinking about Mom, and Fluttershy."
her father looked down, and said, "Oh, and you are worried about the trial."
"Just thinking about that, and mom," she said, looking back. "Why did she leave dad? Where did she go?"
"Your mom..." Blitz sighed, looking down at his own wrist, a small device hanging on it. Shaking his head he sat down with her, he said, "Had a very strong sense of loyalty. She was always ready to go out on the next big mission or to do something for her friends. That's why she had to go on the mission and had to-"
(The man looked away, "Blitz, I am sorry, but during that monster attack, there was an explosion and she just... vanished)
"Do what she could to watch over them." Blitz said.
"Yeah, and left us behind," Rainbow said sighing, "What's the point of being loyal to something if everyone leave you. Or you just abandon them."
"When you have a tough choice like that, sometime you have to figure out what to do for the bigger good. Your mom had another duty and she knew that she had to do it for her friends," Blit looked away as he hugged Rainbow, "Even if it mean leaving you."
"Doesn't mean I have to like it," Rainbow said, "Just wish I could find something to be loyal too."
(Twilight walked away from the principal's office and looked at Sunset, "Ok, tell me. Who did it."
Sunset leaned on the lockers,"What are you talking about?"
"Someone tried to frame me for wrecking the gym and messing up the dance," Twilight said, sighing and leaning against the lockers. "The girls, they want me to believe it's you. And of course, Starla and her team, they already are condemning you."
Sunset frowned,"Celesto." She elbowed the locker behind her in anger,"He doesn't like the idea of you being here."
Twilight arched an eyebrow at this, "Me? What does he have against me?"
"You're going against his narrative." Sunset said with a frown.
"Narrative, what narrative?" Twilight asked, shaking her head. "What that we shouldn't be jerks to each other. That the idea that one group is superior to the other is stupid?"
"Yeah, she even sang a fun song about it," snarked Spike, "Though, you got thank Pinkie for coming up with the lyrics on the fly for you."
"You can't tell me that he has something to gain from praising one group over the other," Twilight said, before looking at Sunset, "Or ostracize you."
"Unfortunately, people like him only care about what they want, never about the wellbeing of others."
Twilight rubbed her forehead, and sighed, "My Celestia, is this what you have been dealing with for two years? Trying to put an end to all of this?" looking at the bully, she asked, "How do you cope with this? Why not just let me take the crown? I can use it, get my friends and stop him. We can work together!"
"I keep telling you, I can do this myself. This is all on me, if I can't do it, no one can!" Sunset said.
"This is too big for anyone to do it on their own!" Twilight said, stepping in front of Sunset and putting her finger to her chest, "We need to work together. I should know, I once thought like you! I thought I could defeat Nightmare Moon on my own, but I was wrong. No one came out and said that you are the only one who can fix things. There are other people who can help you know. People like me," she said, looking up with a bit of sadness in her eyes.
"Twilight sighed, "And what are you going to do if I win this? Take it from me again?" she sighed and then turned away, "All fighting a war alone does, is just leave you alone in the end."
Sunset turned away,"No, I'm not involving anyone else in this war..."
"Sunset," Twilight sighed and then frowned. After lightly kicking the ground she said, "If winning this through my way is going to convince you that you don't have to be alone or you can rely on others then so be it." then she smiled warmly before taking Sunset's hand, "Just know...win or lose, I think you would've made a great older sister."
Twilight walked off with Spike in tow. Somewhere behind Sunset, Rhymey talked to Grand Ruler, "What do you mean, she might be the one. Is our benefactor so convinced she is the link?"
"Just tell your father that you two should be prepared. Once the crown is in Twilight's grasp, grab it for yourself and then put what you can on it. Then..." Rhymey nodded and the two walked away.
)
Sunset opened her eyes slowly,"Why didn't I accept?"Sunset woke up, and looked at the ceiling,"Today's the day..."
"Rhymey's up first, isn't he?" asked Madylin as she looked at Sunset.
Sunset nodded,"Let's hope he gets jailed."
"I Hope so too, though, maybe not," Madylin said with a smile. "Don't want those poor crooks to get annoyed."
Sunset chuckled,"Well, that depends on how well he squeals."
Madylin then took a serious look in her eyes, "What about Fluttershy?"
"I have faith in Phoenix, he seems to know what he's doing." Sunset said.
(Mystic Island Courthouse
9:02 AM.)
(I don't know what I'm doing!) Phoenix thought to himself.
Fluttershy stepped in front of Phoenix, "Oh, Phoenix, do you think you can actually do this?"
"Of course!" Phoenix said,"Although, the way out may involve having to extend the trial a little longer than I'd like."
"Longer than you like?" whispered Fluttershy.
Rhymey frowned as he walked by the two. His eyes narrowed, but before he could say anything, Harry stepped up and looked to Phoenix. Walking to the lawyer, Harry said, "You better be prepared fro what happens when this goes poorly, and he loses."
Phoenix gulped(Man, I keep getting the crazies.)
Then Harvey Kent walked to Harry, and whispered in his ear,"I wouldn't threaten him so soon, Harry."
"It's not a threat, it's a promise," said Harry with a smirk as he looked to his son.
Kent smirked,"Oh, that doesn't change anything."
"I doubt it, Mr. Kent,' Harry said, before asking, "Tell me, how did they catch that one murderer in Gotham a few years ago, the one where the police forgot an important detail and that little rookie was forced to let him go."
Kent glared at him,"You're going to lose." He walked away
Rhymey frowned and looked to his father, a small smirk on his lips. With a whisper he asked, "Do you think he is right?"
"If he is, then you know what to do," Harry said, smiling. "I just hope you are ready."
"It is annoying but I am ready," he whispered back.
Rainbow Dash came in with her friend by her side. When she saw Phoenix, she asked, "Well, when is Fluttershy going to go?"
"As soon as we're done cross-examining Rhymey," Phoenix said,"We're going to try both at the same time, pretty much."
"Can that even be done?" asked Applejack.
"Under special circumstances, yes." Phoenix said,"Especially since the defense attorney for Rhymey mysteriously died last night."
Rarity gasped, "He did? Do they know who?"
"All they saw on the body were two bullet holes." Phoenix said with a frown. He looked at his watch,"It's almost time." He looked at Sunset,"You know, I could use an assistant."
"Me?" Sunset blinked.
"Yep!"
""Do you think you can manage it?" asked Applejack.
"Two distractions," Dick said, looking at the corpse before him, "Two real crimes. A murder and a robbery. You are making this way too easy, Dent."
Harvey Kent smiled, holding his double locked briefcase,"Soon..."
Phoenix opened the door,"It's starting."
"Good luck," Dash said, hugging Fluttershy.
"All rise for the honorable Judge Dredd." The Baileff said as Dredd came into the court, and then sat down,"Court is now in session."
Dredd looked over the court,"I trust everything is in order."
"The defense is ready your honor." Phoenix said.
"The prosecution is ready your honor." Kent said on the other side.
"Please let them win..." whispered Pinkie.
Dick walked in, looking at the crowd and then to Kent. A frown on his face as he looked at the prosecutor.
Dredd's hat and sunglasses managed to conceal his face as he looked at the two defendants,"Prosecution, will you give your opening statement?"
Harvey nodded,"Yes, your honor. As you can see, we have two defendants this time, both Fluttershy Firewing and Rhymey Ward are accused of murdering approximately eight people over the course of four years. We have sufficient evidence and one witness who saw the duo leave the scene of the latest incident on August 4, 2008."
Dredd nodded,"I see. Then let us begin."
Harvey looked at the witness chair,"I call my first witness, Maude Pie to the stand."
Maude walked up to the stand and took her seat. She looked up at the crowd, her emotionless face hid everything she could think of. Looking up, she tried not to smile at Pinkie excited waving.
Phoenix leaned over to Sunset,"Um, is she usually that... deadpan?"
"Yeah..." Sunset muttered.
Harvey walked up to Maude,"Now, Miss Pie, you said you saw the defendants leave the hotel of the last known victims, correct?"
"That is correct, it is what I saw."
"Will you elaborate?" Harvey asked.
Maude nodded as she said, "When I was leaving that night, I saw two figures walk towards the house. When I stepped closer, I noticed that it was Fluttershy and Rhymey leaving the scene of the crime. I watched as Rhymey kept her close, trying to hide her from sight."
"Very good, feel free to cross-examine the witness, Mister Wright." Harvey said.
(She didn't give me too much to work with, so I'll have to keep pressing.) Phoenix walked up to the witness stand,"Were you leaving work, or your house?"
I was leaving my work at the museum, one of the few jobs available in this city.
"Few jobs?" Phoenix asked,"Man, the economy must suck." He thought some more,"You said that they were leaving the crime, yet earlier you said you saw them walking towards the house, which is it?"
"Both," said Maude. "I saw their shadows walk in, and then their shadows walk out."
"And neither of them noticed you at all?" Phoenix asked.
“I don't usually get noticed," Maude said, "In spite of my riveting personality."
Phoenix began to sweat,"Geez, she is hard to read!" He whispered"Was there anything else you noticed about Fluttershy and Rhymey?"
Maude continued to look at Phoenix, her face not betraying her emotions or any change, "I thought I saw one of them holding a dagger while talking something to Fluttershy
"Were you able to hear what he said?" Phoenix asked.
Maude shook her head, "Bearly, just one word: strong."
Phoenix frowned, looking down at his notepad,"Do you remember what time you saw this at?"
"At about 7:00 PM."
Phoenix frowned as he went back to his table,"Darn it, she hasn't given me much to work with here..." He muttered,"The Defense rests, your honor, the witness is excused."
"Thank you. I am very sad and worried for Fluttershy," she said, stepping off. Then she looked to Rhymey and frowned, "Him on the other hand..."
"... that was the most emotion she's shown." Phoenix muttered.
"With that, I would to call Fluttershy Firewing to the stand." Kent said.
Fluttershy nodded and walked to the stand. She gulped and said, "Um....hello."
"Fluttershy," Harvey showed the footage from the phone,"Care to explain what this is?"
Fluttershy gasped, and whispered, "T-t-that's me. Talking to a girl while Rhymey" she shakes her head, "Kills her."
"And who is that girl, do you remember?" Harvey asked.
Fluttershy shook her head, "I...I don't remember.
"Is there anything you can remember?" Harvey said.
"No," Fluttershy said, shaking and quivering, a twitch in her eye.
"Objection!" Phoenix said,"Harvey is about to make the girl cry!"
Harvey shook his head,"What!? I-I-I wasn't trying to do that, honest!"
"I would never kill a person, no matter what. I don't believe in killing in order to protect the world," Fluttershy said, shaking her head. "I could never see myself helping to take a life, anybody's. And I don't know why I would help him. But I...I...
"Let me guess, he had a form of mind control on you?" Harvey said.
"I...I don't know. All I can remember is hearing him whisper that each person needed to die, for the greater good," Fluttershy said, shaking her head. "That if I was to be a hero like him, I needed to kill in order to be strong. To be powerful."
"Sounds like some form of mind control to me." Harvey said.
Phoenix blinked,"He seems very accepting of this."
"I'm not heartless, I and the rest of the court know that you are but an accomplice in this." Harvey leaned in,"We are only looking for the truth, and in the truth, we will find justice against Rhymey Ward.
Fluttershy lowered her head, "Thank you."
"Now, is there anything you'd like to talk about for the crime?" Harvey asked.
Fluttershy could only shake her head no.
"Are you sure? You are in a safe place, no one is going to kill you." Harvey said.
"I..." Fluttershy whispered
"How about this," He grabbed a coin,"Heads, you tell me all you know, tails, you go free." He flipped it into the air.
There was a bit of anticipation in the air as the coin flipped, plus mutterings of curiosity as to why he was doing this. Most of the crowd were in confusion, while Grey made his way to Sunset and left a note "Be prepared." and then nudged his way to the entrance.
Fluttershy's blue eyes watched as it landed with its heads side up, "I remember... telling the girl to be quiet and looking into her eyes as I rester her onto the bed. I told her to be relaxed and let what happened happen before Rhymney plunged the knife into her heart."
"And did Rhymey find a way to convince you to do this?" Harvey said
Sunset blinked,"Prepared for what?" She was then nudged by Phoenix.
"Kent over there isn't what he seems, you need to get out of here." He muttered.
"Why are you watching this again?" asked Unos.
Skull smirked "I'm waiting for the fireworks."
"All he whispered to me was, for the greater good."
"For the greater good, hmm?" Harvey smirked,"Thank you. Any questions, mr. Wright."
Phoenix frowned,"... no."
"Good, you may leave, Ms. Firewing. Your honor, I call to the stand, Rhymey Ward." He flipped a coin, and then slapped it onto his hand,"Hmm."
"What is with the coin?" ask a member of the crowd.
"Oh, this? It's just a quirk of mine, don't worry about it..."
"Objection!" Phoenix shouted,"Your honor, Rhymey isn't the only criminal here, is he, Harvey Dent!?"
Harvey turned to Phoenix,"... I guess it was that obvious." He grabbed the side of his face, and proceeded to peel off bits of clay,"Yes, I came here... to get my revenge!" He revealed a burned half of a face,"I am Two-Face!"
At that, everyone gasped as several thugs busted down the doors and aimed their guns at the people in the courtroom. All the guns glinted in the light of the room as each thugs chuckled. The people inside gasped and prepared to run while the rangers all subtly reached for their morphers.
Outside, Grey looked at a small closet and then sighed. With a low mutter under his breath he said, "Well, it it's good enough for Clark!" and with that he went in. Only to step out and frown, "OUT!"
"God, trying to enjoy my boyfriend here," said Chip as he walked ut, followed by Sandalwood.
Rolling his eyes, Dick went back inside and began to ri[ open his shirt, exposing the Nightwing logo on his chest, "GOD I LOVE THAT!"
Two-Face looked at Dredd,"We're finishing this trial, but this time, this is the jury!" He pulled out the coin,"Heads, guilty, tails, innocent." He looked at Phoenix,"Unless you have any objections, Mister Wright?"
Phoenix bit his lip,"How about we do a cross-examination first?"(Have to stall him.)
Two-Face thought for a moment, before flipping his coin. Seeing heads, he looked at Rhymey,"Go to the witness stand. And by the way, the moment a Ranger or a Bird enter here," He pulled out a small detonator,"This entire courtroom goes boom."
"Wouldn't that kill you too!?" Phoenix said.
"Yes, but it would also leave no traces of Harry Ward!" He pointed to the man in question,"Do you realize what he did!?"
"You lost against him, I did the research." Phoenix frowned.
"You are Japanese. You know how hard it is for a defense attorney over there." Two-Face said. Seeing Phoenix give a slow nod,"It's just as hard for a prosecutor in Gotham. If you lose, your entire reputation is at stake. Of course, every judge and lawyer in that city are paid off by criminals, including him! I failed that case, and it haunted me even when I was District Attorney! But now, I can have my revenge! Now, Rhymey, explain the video!"
"What is there to explain
It is obviously a pain.
It was doctored
Changed and auhtored
Two-Face flipped a coin,"I don't think you're telling the truth. We also have footage of Phoenix talking to you, and making you break."
"Me break?
Must be a mistake!"
Sunset found a small dart at her hand, "How good are you at morse code?"
Sunset looked around, and started tapping on the wall,"I'm really good at it."
Two-Face walked around, showing security footage of him talking to Phoenix,"You pretty much just confessed right there."
"How many are around you, did you see anything strange before entering the room?” Nightwing asked
"He was badgering me
I am innocent you see.
"There are 5 men around the room, with assault rifles. I don't know if I saw anything weird, but there might be some sort of bomb around the area."
"Now, Rhymey, you know what the laws are against perjury?" Two-Face asked.
"Any of the others know about the bomb?"
"Perjury.
In front of the jury?
Surely you jess,
Harvey frowned, flipping his coin,"Heads, Let me show you something."
He began to show portraits of Rhymey,"Here are paintings and a few pictures of yourself throughout the years. Interesting how old they are, isn't it?
The people in the audience gasped and began to murmur. Rhymey growled, "Where did you get-"
"I did a lot of research for this battle, Ward." Dent growled,"And you won't escape like your father did!"
Phoenix bit his lip,(I have to do something. I don't like the guy, but if he is to be executed, it should be up to an actual court, not him.),"Objection!" He shouted, pointing his finger at him,"You don't have any proof that those are him. Nicholas Cage, for example, has a painting that looks exactly like him, and last I checked, he isn't immortal."
As Phoenix said this about Cage, someone in the crowd shouted, "Are you sure?"
"Good point, Wright." Two-Face said,"Except that there are people who are confirmed immortals, such as Vandal Savage. It's entirely possible that this is him! His reaction shows it."
In the courthouse, a guard was walking through the halls. As he neared a darkened hallway, a baton placed against his throat and as pulled close to a muscular chest. As he trembled, he could hear a deep voice speak behind him, "You are scared, good. I like it when they are, makes it more fun when I kill them."
"You wouldn't,' he whimpered.
Nightwing smirked, "Lives are at stake, think I wouldn't kill you to protect them?" as he trembled, he continues. "there are bombs somewhere. Where?!"
"B-b-beneath the courtroom. It has a double tripwire system." he whispered.
"Good." Nightwing said, pulling him close and choking him until he passed out, "You sleep well tonight.." with silent footsteps, Nightwing walked towards the basement. "Oracle, better have some maps for me."
"This is weird, there is a slight grain. Like it's out of synch with us," said Oracle as she typed. "But I got something, there is a basement door to your left."
"Thanks Babs," Dick whispered.
"No! I AM NOT CONNECTED TO THAT MORON SAVAGE!!!" shouted Rhyme.
"Then, how about this, we found it by going through your things." He pulled out a small dagger,"This is a weapon used quite frequently by the League of Shadows, led by one Ra's Al Ghul."
"WHERE ARE YOU GETTING THIS STUFF!?" Shouted Harry.
"I did a lot of snooping around, Ward. Now, silence!" Two-Face turned to him,"Or do I decide his fate right now?" He pulled out his coin again.
"Decide his fate?" whispered Fluttershy.
Below her, Sunset could hear some more faint tapping "Keep the trial going. Almost done with the bomb."
Sunset nodded,"Phoenix, we need more ways to stall him."
Two-Face looked at Fluttershy,"A flip of a coin. Heads, I execute him. Tails, he leaves."
"Objection!" Phoenix shouted,"Isn't-"
"Overruled!" Two-Face flipped the coin.
No one moved as the coin flipped through their, until it finally landed with the heads facing upwards.
Two-Face pulled out a gun from his briefcase, and pointed it at Rhymey,"Guilty." He fired at his heart.
The world stopped at the bullet pierced his heart, causing Rhymey to fall back into his chair. As the blood pooled around the wound, Nightwing sent a message, "Sunset, talk to me. hat happened, who got shot?"
"Rhymey, he just executed Rhymey." Sunset tapped.
Two-Face flipped a coin,"Next, the other suspect."
"Wait, I thought you were going to leave her alone!" Phoenix said.
"This changed my mind." He held the coin in his hand.
Rarity looked in her pocket, and then to Applejack. Applejack gave a question look before she nodded and reached into her pocket. Pinkie Pie let out a little gasp as she looked and went through her pockets.
This went unnoticed by Fluttershy as she gave out a squeak and closed her eyes. She did not see the cruel smile on Two-Face's lips as he held coin for a moment and then set it on his thumb and forefinger. Everyone became tense as he flipped coin in the air, and then several other coins all began to fall with it.
Two-Face gasped, throwing his hands in the air,"My coin, where is it, I can't make a decision without my coin!" He screamed, kneeling to the ground and searching the pile of coins at his feet.
"Clever," Nightwing whispered as he slunk behind Sunset. "Bomb is disarmed."
As Two-Face scrambled for his coin, the thugs began to fall around him. There was a smirk as a voice called out, "Thought you would stay in Gotham, Dent!" growled Nightwing.
"Yeah, but I'm not the one who came up with the idea.." She looked at Rarity with a frown.
Two-Face looked up,"I should say the same about you, Bird! Why didn't you stay in Bludhaven!?"
Nightwing slunk in the shadows, keeping to the rafters. Around him, Dash and the others began ushering out the people from the room. As they did, he quickly knocked out a thug who threatened to shoot them. When Nightwing heard the question, he said, "Looking for someone, a friend of mine. He went missing a few years ago and my trail finally led me here."
"Heh, I was looking for someone to. A friend came down to Arkham and pulled me and another out, and he told me of Harry's whereabouts." Two-Face pointed to Harry,"He has been a thorn in my side for years! And I now have a chance to fully get my revenge, once I find my coin!"
"Who was it?" asked Nightwing.
Two-Face laughed,"I'd try to figure out if I should tell you, but I'd need my coin!"
"Left foot," Nightwing said.
"What?" Two-Face asked.
"Where your coin is," Nightwing said.
Two-Face picked up the coin, and then flipped it. He looked at the result,"Tails, you don't get anything from me."
"Guess you'll have to tell me later when you are in jail," Nightwing said with a smirk.
"Try and catch me, Bird!" He then noticed the four rangers nearby. He flipped a coin,"Heads, I turn myself in."
Nightwing frowned, "And tails?"
"Tails, you punch me in the face." He flipped the coin,"Heads."
Nightwing frowned, a part of him wanting to punch him in the face. Slipping behind him, he put some bat-cuffs onto Two Face's wrists.
"Hey, bird," Two-Face looked at him,'If I could make a request." He looked at Harry,"The moment you catch him, give him the old One-Two."
"I will, Dent," Nightwing said.
Sunset sighed,"Thank Celestia."
Dredd pointed to the guards,"Take him away." He looked down at Fluttershy,"Seeing as our trial was so rudely interrupted, I guess I must make a decision."
Everyone turned to Dredd, waiting in anticipation
"Seeing as she wasn't responsible for her own actions, I will give her a light sentence: 60 days of community service!"
"Yay!" whispered Fluttershy.
A slow clap was heard over the courtroom.
Sunset spun around,"What was that?"
(Now, it's time for fun)
A man in a black and leather jacket clapped slowly as he laid on the bench. Slowly getting up from the bench, he began to speak, "Allow me to start off with saying, I am not like those other four who came before me."
"I know you," Dash said, looking at him with a mix of excitement and worry, "You're Junior."
"A pleasure," he said smiling and bowing.
Applejack looked confused, "Ya know him?"
"I played with him a little while I was traveling." Dash said.
Fluttershy stepped forward, "What do you mean that you are not like the other four."
"In that I don't have some sanctimonious bull about being here to make sure that all rangers are safe, to make people deals, or whatever Darkanda wanted," taking out his guitar, he let out a loud riff. This caused caged to surround the rangers, leaving Nightwing and Madylin trapped outside, "We have something better to do."
Phoenix sighed, watching them,"Oh, come on, this is just what I didn't want!"
Sunset gasped,"Let us out of here!"
"What, an miss out on the game," he smiled as he looked to Rainbow, "OR rather, her game?"
"Her game?" Sunset asked.
"Of course," Junior said with a smirk as he began to generate a small flamethrower on one arm, "She gave me the idea, after all,."
Sunset glared at Rainbow Dash,"What did you do!?"
"Nothing! Rainbow Dash said, shaking her head in utter shock. "All I did was talk to him!"
Junior smiled, "About what was it now? Oh yeah, about Loyalty and what was it's point?"
"Good idea, Rainbow, talk to a random stranger about the importance of loyalty. Now he's going to kill us with some sort of ironic trap!" Sunset shouted,"There's only two ways this could end!"
"But I didn't, I just..." Rainbow Dash looked down, "I just wanted someone outside of the team to talk to."
"Sunset! Now's not the time!" Rarity said, frowning.
"You shut up!" Sunset shouted,"You've been ignoring me this entire week! I've been trying to talk to you for days, but all you've done is brush me off! Why do you care!?"
"I care because I am still trying to salvage something of this friendship and work for the betterment of this team." Rarity said.
Pinkie looked at Junior, "Um girls."
"Sunset, do you really want to get into this now?" Applejack asked.
"Please gurls, let's just morph," Fluttershy asked.
"No, I don't want to get into this right now, but she's being a bit of bitch today!" Sunset growled.
Rumiko slowly opened the door to the courthouse, stepping over the knocked-out bodies,"I'm too late." She whispered, hiding from the gaze of everyone,"Chirin, please get those digimon to the gem!"
The two little digimon quickly began running to the gem.
"Look in the mirror darling!" Rarity said.
Junior laughed, "Please continue, I love these fireworks.”
"Mirror? Oh, you mean that thing you look into every day to see just how little you actually care!?" Sunset snarled,"If you just stopped focusing on your narcissism for five seconds to focus on other people, maybe we wouldn't have this conversation while we're in danger!"
"Narcissism? Well excuse me for having a life!" Rarity said, frowning. "I try to mix it all up, try to have it all, but it's kind of hard to bring it all together."
"Girls, let's not fight," whispered Fluttershy.
"Well maybe it wouldn't be so hard if you'd stop ignoring me like I'm some sort of monster!" Sunset shouted.
"I am not ignoring you. I keep telling you that I-AHHHHHHH!" Rarity screamed as lighting surged through her. A series of clamps appeared around each leg of the girls, save for Rainbow Dash.
With a sly smile, Junior brought out a sword made various bones and slowly swirled it around, "As much as I love to hear more of your high school drama, I do have a game to play. Right, Rainbow?"
Dash growled as she stepped out, "I am not playing any-AHHH!" with a quick step back, she moved out of the way of a line of fire. For a brief second she thought she saw a skeleton head appear on Junior's head.
"Oh, but you are going to play the game. It's how to stave off boredom you know," Junior said walking around, "And as I told my father before I stabbed him in the back, I hate being bored."
"Ya killed your own father?" Applejack asked, eyes wide.
"The man had the world at his fingertips. The Rangers of my world were dead, we had everything and did everything we wanted. Do you think I was happy with all of that? Happy to sit on a throne, killing and massacring all I wanted. NO! So I killed my father, and in that moment when my sword met his demonic flesh, I realized... Loyalty is a fools game."
"You're not loyal to anything, so where do you get off," Dash asked with a growl.
"Simple. What is the point of being loyal to anything when you can lose so much in a short of time," Junior said, walking around, "Ideals? Smashed. Friends, run away. And the responsible ones tend to crumble. Look at your friends, you know they will abandon you soon and your life will change forever. Just by hearing the words," he then spoke in Applejack's voice, "Rainbow, there's an accident. Fluttershy, she didn't..."
Rainbow growled and stepped forward, almost getting burned by the flames, "So, let's begin the game. I will ask one of these girls a question about their loyalty to their virtues and see what they answer. If they answer the right way, then I will let you step closer to them."
Twilight counted the steps, "There's only five steps, and six of us."
"When the questions are done, I will burn you with my flame thrower. It will be up to Dash to decide who is the one to die," Junior said with a laugh as he stepped to Sunset, "Let's begin with little Miss Anger here."
"Stay-"
"Miss Sunset, are you proud of the work you done here? Do you feel satisfied and know who it is you are?"
Sunset frowned at the chains, and looked at the steps, before shaking her head. She looked up at Junior, and spat in his face,"There's my answer!"
Raising his blade, he slashed Rarity's arm, eliciting a scream,"Wrong answer, Sunny."
Sunset gasped,"Hey, I gave that answer, why didn't you hit me!?"
Junior smirked, "Which hurt you more?"
Sunset bit her lip in frustration,"Monster. Fine, you want know how I've been feeling? I've been feeling worthless, like everything I've been trying to do has been blowing up in my face."
"Do you see Dash?" he asked, snapping his finger to shock sunset as the fire line backed up. Chuckling he looked at her "The girl became your friend after enduring hell, but can't bare to think of the good she's done or even about her legacy."
Looking to Twilight, he said, "I would ask you, but I think we all know that to this team...you are pointless." the flame line pulled back as he pointed the blade at Applejack's throat, making a tiny nick and letting a trickle of fluid run down "You on the other hand, have a problem. Tell me, do you appreciate it, do you want it?"
Applejack narrowed her eyes, "Yes."
The blade cut deep into Sunset's arm, "Look at that Dash, can't even be loyal to her virtue." Junior licked his lips as he snapped his fingers and make the fire come just a little closer. "Rarity, and would you like to have your-"
"Snap it," Rarity said, frowning, "I know you are about to. It doesn't take a fool to realize that no matter what we say, you will make us suffer and enjoy it."
Junior slashed Pinkie Pie across the stomach, smirking, "One step left and you will have to decide miss dash." looking back at Sunset and Twilight, he said, "Why do you two look that way? You don't care.”
Twilight fell silent, while Sunset began to struggle against the leg chain,"I never said I didn't care!"
"Sure, that is why you yell, scream, and let your rage get the best of you," laughed Junior as he pointed is clade at Fluttershy and Pinkie. Licking his lips he said, "Now, who to hurt and ask questions to. How about Pinkie Pie."
"Me?" Pinkie asked, "And what you got for me."
"Are you scared?" Junior asked, smirking.
Pinkie shook her head, only to watch in horror as Fluttershy was electrocuted, "All right! I am, for what is going to happen to my friends."
"Good, now you see, Dash?" he asked looking back at Rainbow as she walked to the fire line , "Each one of your friends are proving why it's pointless to be loyal to them. Lies, anger, deceit, and fear. The only one that seems to be worth anything is the weak and pitiful Fluttershy."
"You hurt any of them-" Dash growled.
"Oh, but I don't have to hurt any of them. See, you are fast enough to save five when my flames hit them. But which ones? Or will you care?" Junior said turning his arm into a skeleton's and aiming a large flamethrower at the girls. "They are going to abandon you anyway so why bother stepping in for them!"
Rainbow's widened as she heard the hum of the flamethrower ignite and prepare to fire-
Vanilla leapt onto some of the rocks, kicking around the ground, "Come on little gem. You have to be here somewhere."
Coco sighed and shook her head, "Sister, maybe we ran out? We kept getting lucky finding each gem you know."
"We weren't lucky! We found them fair and square. Something kept telling us that they were here and we just," Vanilla gasped as she heard the ringing of a nearby gem. Jumping up, she pointed, "Look! Its-"
(Don't know how. Don't know where...But I'll protect all of them. Why?)
"BECAUSE THEY'RE MY FRIENDS!"Rainbow Dash shouted as she stepped in front of the fireball, taking it on at full force.
As the smoke cleared, a lighting bolt gem hovered in front of Rainbow Dash, before floating t her and placing itself to her chest.
(Rainbow Dash, who would not abandon us for her dreams, represents the element of Loyalty)
In a flash of light, Rainbow Dash now stood in a uniform that matched her friends. Albeit this one had a bright blue scheme and her helm had bits of rainbow on it. Looking up, she smiled and said, "Nice." holding up her hand, she watched in amazement as lighting energy flowed from her arm and down into a circle around her hand. Eyes widening at the sight of her chakram, she kicked it into the air, letting it bounce against the walls until it cut Junior on the cheek and broke the chains.
"Impressive," Junior said, watching as the girls walked away from their binds. Junior smiled as he allowed his body transform into his skeleton form. The emptiness of his eye sockets seemed to burn with hell fire as he said, "Now there are five. A good number for a ranger team. Yes," he hissed.
Dash looked at Applejack from her helmet, "Got this morphing thing down?"
"So far, to tell the truth," Applejack said, transforming into her ranger state, watching as Pinkie, Rarity, and Fluttershy followed. "It's really only been happening whenever one of us unlocks out powers."
Rarity knocked back her bow and nodded. Fluttershy ran to Twilight and pushed her out of the way, "Twilight, please wait here." Then she ran back to join the group in the line up.
The skulls that lined Gasha Skull’s skirt rattled as he said, "Are you done protecting those who can't save themselves? Because if you want to know something, I am finally excited! Come, give me what my life has been missing for these many years! MAKE ME EXCITED!!!!!
Rainbow Dash looked to her friends and then back to Gasha Skull, "With pleasure!" she said, raising right at Skull and slashing at him with her chakram. Gasha blocked the slash with his sword, kicking her back and slicing at her stomach. Turning around, he ducked under one of Rarity's shots, before raising his flamethrower at her to fire.
A golden lasso wrapped around his firearm and crushed it, binding his arm to the rope. With a grunt Applejack pulled him close and she kicked him hard into the stomach. Recovering quick, Gasha spun around and kicked Applejack hard tino the stands of the courtroom.
A shot rang out and blasted his side. Looking to the judges booth, he glared his socketless eyes at Pinkie as she aimed another sht with her cannon on her arm. Twirling his blade in his hand, he slammed the blade into the ground, causing it to split and sending splinters flying into the air as the podium was cut in half. Pinkie barely had time to leap out of the air and then roll to the side.
Spinning around, he saw Fluttershy protecting Sunset and Twilight. Running faster than the girls could move, he raised his blade and tried to slash at Fluttershy's head. As the blade slashed down to strike her head, he looked on in shock as an ethereal sword blocked his balde. Fluttershy looked to the ghostly blade in amazement, "What was-"
Before she could ask further, Gasha tried to roundhouse Fluttershy's head, only for his leg to be bound by the golden lasso and pulled towards Applejack. As he raised his blade, he screamed in pain as two arrow shots hit his eyes followed by the slashing of a lighting chakram. Looking up, he watched as Rainbow ran at him, splitting her chakram into two halves and turning her circlet into lighting charged knuckle dusters.
With an incredible pace, Rainbow ran at Gasha and punched at his body, her blows and blades turning into a blur as she struck out. Lighting and thunder cracked as each blow laid against his body. With an uppercut, she leapt away to allow Pinkie to aim her cannon and fire a blast that knocked him into the other side of the room, destroying the rest of the room.
Struggling to get back up, he looked on in shock, "What the-" he remarked as oranger energy flowed around Applejack's foot circling it until it became a ball of energy. Applejack looked down and then to Rarity, an without a word, she licked it to Rarity, turning the energy to white as it neared her. With a gasp, she nudged it with her shoulder and sent the now pink ball of energy to Pinkie. Pinkie smiled as she jumped and knocked the ball with her head to Fluttershy, who quickly kicked the yellow ball to Rainbow Dash with a squeak.
Seeing the ball flew at her at high speed, Rainbow Dash quickly envisioned the ball as a soccer ball, and then kicked it into the air, turning the ball of energy into a glowing ball of power, changing color to match each one of the five's own colors. As it flew up into the air, Rainbow Dash jumped up with it, somersaulted and kicked it hard, "HARMONY STRIKER!" she shouted, feeling a weird mix of being cheesy and awesome at the same time.
Gasha Skull could do nothing but watch in horror as the flowing pulsating ball of energy flew straight at him and hitting him hard in the stomach, causing a massive explosion of power.
Once the smoke cleared, Gasha now laid next to his blade, blood running down his side as he looked up to Rainbow Dash, "Heh, so...this is dying? I always wondered. Rainbow...thank you."
"Thank me?" Rainbow dash asked, demorphing.
"For giving me so many new experiences. I was not wrong when I said I was bored, bored with everything. Life, my world, everything. I knew I could never end it, so I tried to find so many new ways to get my life some excitement once more. Hell, I really did think Loyalty was meaningless. What was the point when things disappear from you or people betray you. But you, you showed me how to bring excitement back into my life. Thank you." looking at the girls, he said,"Don't waste the time with them. And don't worry about your future with them, it will be great." and with that, he disappeared.
Gallant looked to Unos, "Sad?"
"No," he said, walking away, "That monster was not my uncle." he said before teleporting away.
That night, Rito Revolto would find himself being hugged by his eldest nephew.
"PHEW!" Rainbow Dash said, leaning back against the rubble. "Ok, can we agree to not fight guys like that again for a while? I am bushed."
Applejack looked down, "What was that energy. Why can we only morph at those points of times. and why-"
"Ok, Applejack, I don't think you know how this works," Dash remarked, "We won, we can relax for a bit. No worries about the egghead stuff."
"Um, do you think everyone else is-"
"Girls!" shouted Madylin as she ran and hugged her friends.
"Sorry we couldn't break through the cage," Nightwing said
Sunset frowned, turning away and was about to head back through the back doors.
"Yeah, now let’s head home and relax," Pinkie said, before turning to Sunset, "Sunset?"
Sunset began to snarl,"You know what?" She turned to them,"I'm tired of this. I'm tired of dealing with,"She pointed to Rarity,"Your aloof attitude," She glared at Applejack,"Your sudden bout of recklessness," She looked at Rainbow,"Your inability to connect with us,"She looked at Pinkie,"Your inability to communicate," She looked at Fluttershy,"Your cowardice, and finally," She looked at Twilight,"Your... insanity! I'm tired of it! I've been working hard, trying to keep an eye on you guys, but you have been making things so hard! I've been trying to protect you, to help you, but what do I get in return!? I get ignored, yelled at, and I end up sticking to the freaking sidelines while you do all the work! I'm tired of all of this!" Sunset shouted,"I'm tired of secrets, tired of being ignored, and I'm TIRED OF YOU!" She stomped out of the courthouse.
Pinkie ran after her,"Sunset!" She watched as Sunset got on her bike, and put her helmet on,"Wait!" Sunset pulled her bike out, and drove off.
Pinkie knelt to the ground,"... come back." She whispered, holding her hand out in front of her.