//------------------------------// // Arc 4: Chapter 17 // Story: Student 32: Sunset Shimmer // by Show Stopper //------------------------------// The rest of the week was uneventful for Sunset. Negi and Asuna seemed to be keeping their distance from her after the fight with Evangeline, but the vampire herself had become strangely amicable towards the unicorn-turned-human, a fact that never failed to send shivers down Sunset’s spine. Setsuna occasionally shot her a questioning look, but she’d so far managed to just wave her off. Sunset’s magic studies had taken a different direction. After how winded she’d gotten during the battle, Sunset determined that she needed to work on raw firepower as well as endurance. This meant long hours in the depths of library island, alternating between throwing around fireballs until she was exhausted and working on translating a few of her Equestrian spells into the human style. Several rewrites and one particularly painful splinching later, Sunset had finally managed to reproduce her teleportation spell. Nodoka and Yue had remained silent so far on their decision of whether to get more involved in magic or not, though they had begun asking questions about what Sunset was working on, and they seemed to be growing more and more interested as she explained her struggles with spellcraft. Yue had even begun learning Latin, though she claimed it was for the Philosophy Club. Sunset continued to throw herself full-force into the Boxing Club as well, and had even started asking a couple of older students for tips on more general street fighting, claiming a passing interest. She quickly added kicks and grapple moves to her private practice sessions beneath Library Island, finding particular amusement in the idea of striking an opponent’s pressure points with burning fingers. Added to all of this were preparations for the upcoming School Trip to Kyoto and Nara. Sunset had had little interest in going, reasoning that a full week without classes would be a great opportunity for training, but Nodoka had talked her into it. Actually, she’d just frowned and said that it wouldn’t be as fun without Sunset there. Haruna had given her several annoyingly knowing looks after that one. The day of the trip arrived as any other, with Sunset rising a little earlier than usual to make sure that she hadn’t forgotten to pack anything, and to make sure that all of her magic supplies were buried at the bottom of her bag or otherwise hidden. She arrived at the train station earlier than most of the class and took the time to get some additional studying done in the Tome of Spellcraft. “Are you sure that’s advisable?” Sunset looked up from the bench she’d taken a seat on. Setsuna was looking around the station with a casual air, one that struck Sunset as familiar. She almost resembled many of the more experienced royal guards when they were off duty: relaxed, but constantly aware. “It's not just our class you have to worry about out here. You never know when someone walking by may know particularly good English.” Sunset shrugged. “Eh, I'm sure I could make something up about a role-playing game or something.” Her eyes darted to the sword that Setsuna always carried. “You sure it's a good idea to carry that thing around?” Setsuna replied with a shrug of her own. “I’m good at going unnoticed.” Sunset raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Are you sure about that? I noticed you and your sword my first day in class.” “You’re a mage.” Sunset pondered that for a moment before nodding. “Fair enough. Has Zazie arrived yet?” Setsuna shook her head. “No, and Evangeline and Chachamaru will not be coming.” She turned her full attention to Sunset. “Speaking of whom, did something happen between the two of you and Negi-sensei? I’ve been keeping an eye on her ever since I learned what she is, and she seems more… open around you now. And Negi-sensei seems to be avoiding you.” Sunset narrowed her eyes at the swordswoman. “Do you spy on everyone in the class, or am I just special?” Setsuna shook her head. “Just the people who are of particular interest.” “Hmph.” Sunset stuffed her book into her bag and glared out across the station. “She broke her seal during the blackout. Springfield, Asuna, and I confronted her, but…” Sunset clenched her fists. “Even two-against-one, we were severely outmatched. We’re lucky that she was just playing with us the whole time. If the blackout hadn’t ended early, we’d have been dead. And then, Springfield did the stupidest thing he could have done.” Setsuna raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” “He saved her life. Once when the seal reasserted itself and he kept her from falling to her death, and once after that when I was ready to finish her off once and for all.” Setsuna’s other eyebrow shot up. “You tried to kill her?” Sunset turned her glare to the swordswoman. “Didn’t you mention before that fighting creatures like her is your specialty? You should understand better than anyone that it’s not murder to slay a monster; it’s extermination.” Setsuna’s eyes narrowed. “That’s… one way of thinking. Others would say that if the target is sentient, then imprisonment is always the better option.” “And look at how that worked last week!” Sunset took a deep breath and stood up, looking away from Setsuna. “It doesn’t matter, anyway. Her powers are completely locked away until the next full moon,” or until she finds another way around the seal, “and Springfield’s claimed responsibility for her actions going forward.” “Springfield?” Sunset glanced back at Setsuna. “Hm?” “That’s the third time you’ve called Negi-sensei by his last name,” Setsuna said. “Is there some significance behind that?” “...I used to call him ‘kid’ or ‘the kid,’” she said, looking away again. “A carefree, happy, naive kid whose biggest problems were dealing with a class full of mostly-playful child molesters and worrying about his students’ well-beings. Now? Now he has something much more serious on his plate. And if he’s going to accept that responsibility, then I’m going to make sure he remembers it. Don’t misunderstand; it isn’t respect.” They lapsed into silence, each lost in their own thoughts until more students began to arrive. Negi showed up early as well, running around with an enormous smile on his face, looking for all the world like a carefree kid going on a vacation. Sunset broke away from Setsuna to mingle with the Library Exploration Club while she waited for the trip to get underway. Eventually, everyone had arrived and Negi split them up into their designated groups. Sunset rejoined Setsuna, the group #6 leader, and noticed only then that the third member of their group had arrived. Sunset studied Zazie Rainyday a bit as their group waited to board the train. She was an enigma in the class, one that no-one had managed to figure out. Her hair was off-white, a little towards blue, and neck-length with the exception of two locks than hung down low in front of her shoulders. Her skin was almost as dark as Mana’s but her strangest features by far were the two even darker marks on her face. One was a large teardrop just below her left eye, and the other was a line that ran straight down from her hairline, through her right eye and halfway down her cheek. Sunset couldn’t tell if they were painted on or some sort of tattoos and, according to Haruna, no-one else knew either. She also never spoke and, for some reason, Sunset felt a distinct sense of unease standing next to her. If she isn’t magical, Sunset thought, watching as the girl reached out a hand for a random bird to land on, ...nope. No if’s about it. Sunset shrugged, looking forward as her group entered the train. Meh, not like I have to get involved in every weird thing that happens around here. “Negi-sensei,” Setsuna called from ahead of Sunset, drawing the teacher’s attention. Negi turned to face her, his eyes going wide. “Oh! There you are! Group leader #6, Sakurazaki Setsuna-san…” He trailed off, seeing who was with her. “A-and Zazie-san and N-Nichibotsu-san.” “There is a slight problem,” Setsuna said, drawing Negi’s attention back to her. “Group six consists only of the three of us, as Evangeline-san and Chachamaru-san are absent. What should we do?” “I-I see,” Negi said. “Well, I could put you with the other groups, unless you’re alright with it being just the three of you?” Setsuna turned to Sunset, who shrugged. “Honestly, I can’t guarantee that I’ll stick with my group anyway. Your call.” They both looked to Zazie who gave a simple thumbs-up. “I suppose our group of three would be fine,” Setsuna said, turning back to Negi. She walked past him into the train, Zazie and Sunset following suit, the latter looking straight ahead and doing her best to ignore her nervous teacher. ***** The first half of the train ride passed without incident. Most of the class was content to pass the ride keeping to themselves or chatting with their neighbor. Six of them had gathered together for a trading card game which drew Sunset’s interest. She leaned over the back of Yue’s seat, watching as she, Makie, and Yuna faced off against Fuuka, Sakurako, and Haruna. Though she didn’t understand the exact mechanics of the game, Sunset was able to get a feel for the general strategies in play. Both Yue and Haruna seemed to prefer to build defences and whittle away slowly at their opponents, while Yuna and Makie went on all-out attacks. Fuka was laying out the foundations for a long-term strategy, building up to something big. Unfortunately, Sakurako’s famous good luck seemed to be failing her team as her cards appeared to have little rhyme or reason to them. While Yuna and Makie struck out at Fuka, interrupting her machinations, Yue and Haruna faced off in a battle of attrition. Just as it seemed Haruna had the advantage, Yuna switched targets. “All right!” she cried, pointing at Haruna as she revealed one of the cards from her hand. “I’m going to cast ‘Spell of Flames’ on you for five points.” “Aaw, you got me,” Haruna whined. “I’m dead! I was killing you slowly with my ‘Frog Perdition’ card too!” “You got too focused on Yue-chan,” Ako commented, standing next to Sunset and leaning over Makie’s seat. “You forgot to keep your defences up since she hasn’t been using any big attacks. If Yuna hadn’t taken you out, Makie-chan would have on her turn.” “Don’t tell them that!” Makie hushed, her eyes boring into the cards in her hand. “We still have to take down the other two.” “Meanwhile,” Yuna said, grinning happily, “I’ll be taking those five chocolates Haruna wagered.” “Argh,” Haruna muttered, reaching into her bag for a small box of chocolates. “Those stupid frogs…” “They would have worked if your teammate had provided support,” Sunset said, her eyes drifting to Sakurako. “It’s not my fault,” the girl whined. “I don’t understand why my deck is doing so badly this time. I’m usually-” “KYAAA!!!” “F-FROG!?” Everyone turned just in time to see a small, green frog leap out of Haruna’s chocolate box and land on Yuna’s head. Sunset quirked an eyebrow. What the- “HIIII!!!” “KYAAAA!!!” Sunset looked around as the train car filled with screams. Frogs were hopping all over the place, leaping out of lunchboxes and thermoses and anything else that had held food. The floor was soon covered in the tiny green things, croaking cheerfully as they jumped all over the seats and students. “Wh-what are all of these frogs doing here?!” Negi shouted, falling to his hands and knees and grabbing for the various amphibians, stuffing them into a small bag. A couple of students joined them, the work going much faster once Ku Fei and Kaede joined in. All the while, Sunset just sat back and watched. She heard a soft thud behind her and turned to see that Ako had fainted in her seat. Rolling her eyes, Sunset turned back to contemplating the spectacle. Well, this is definitely suspicious. I don’t even know what to make of this. She reached out and caught a frog mid-leap, bringing it to her face for consideration. A summon? No. I would have sensed someone attempting to cast a spell to summon on this scale. Must have been set in advance. But why? Sunset glanced up at Negi as he began giving instructions for an emergency roll-call. Is it something to do with him? Or maybe Mana or Setsuna? Is there anyone in the class who mages might want to harass? She sighed, shaking her head and walking over to Ku Fei who now held a giant bag of frogs. Not that it really concerns- Something shot by Sunset’s head. She reached for her wand on reflex, turning her eyes to either end of the train. She barely caught a glimpse of something small darting through the air towards the back of the train before it vanished through the door to the next car. She took a single step forward, but she stopped when she saw Negi rush after it. Sunset hesitated for a moment, looking between the frog in her hand and the back door. She sighed and shook her head, tossing her frog to Ku Fei and taking her seat again. Not my problem, she thought, placing her hands behind her head. This time, I’m staying out of it. ***** The train arrived in Kyoto a short time later. Class 3-A eagerly poured out of the train station, cheering and yelling like the bunch of kids they were. With only four days and three nights to enjoy themselves, they rushed immediately to the famous Kiyomizu temple. Sunset hung back from the main group, prefering to observe the sights from a distance rather than get involved in her class’s shenanigans. She couldn’t help but enjoy the sights, the view from the Kiyomizu stage taking her breath away. “You know,” she said to herself, “this place is almost like…” Her calm smile slipped a little. “Yeah, no way I can get that to translate.” “Something from back home?” Sunset flinched, turning her head to see Setsuna watching the class from beside her. “Something like that,” she muttered, turning back to the class. “A place my old teacher took me a few years ago. Lots of temples and trees all around.” I wonder if I’ll ever have the chance to visit Neighpon again? Setsuna nodded, her eyes leaving the class to take in the view. “It is a beautiful city.” A soft smile settled on her face. “I grew up here, though I haven’t been back in years. It’s good to see it again.” Her smile faded as her eyes locked on Negi. “It’d be better if circumstances were different.” Sunset followed Setsuna’s gaze and frowned. “Something going on? I noticed Springfield chasing after something on the train, and I’m not stupid enough to think it was unconnected to the frogs.” Setsuna nodded. “Negi-sensei has a message to deliver to the Kansai Magic Association. It would seem that the Kanto Magic Association wishes to strengthen ties, which certain factions here in Kyoto are against.” Sunset sighed. “Great. Another magic disaster. Keep me out of this one, will you? I think Springfield and I both need some time apart after our last adventure.” Setsuna shrugged. “Don’t worry. Once the letter Negi-sensei possesses is delivered, everything should calm down.” “Good to know.” Sunset grinned and began walking towards the class. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to jump off the Kiyomizu stage.” *** Fortunately, Setsuna was able to convince Sunset not to take the jump. That was the last bit of good fortune that day, as a series of strange events followed Class 3-A as they explored the temple grounds. Within the temple grounds was the Jishu shrine, which housed two “love stones.” Legend held that whomever could cross from one stone to the other with their eyes closed would find success in love. It was no surprise that Sunset’s classmates were interested, with Nodoka, Makie, and Ayaka making the attempt. Sunset groaned as she watched Nodoka stagger off to the right, unable to concentrate with her classmates’ constant shouting. Ayaka made her way boldly forward, Makie opening her eyes half-way while trying to keep up. Both were halted as the ground gave way beneath their feet. Sunset’s eyes narrowed as she watched Negi and Asuna try to pull the two girls out of the pit-trap. She shared a quick look with Setsuna before shaking her head and moving to help. Irritating, she thought, but not actually harmful. If this is all that these Kansai rogues can put out, I don’t even have to worry. The next stop was the Otowa waterfall. Three streams of water fell from a shrine, each promising success in either health, ambitions, or marriage. While Sunset decided to humor fate by drinking from the “ambition” waterfall, most of the class crowded around the “marriage” one. Ugh, Sunset thought, stepping down from the shrine to give other people their turn while her class continued to hog the final waterfall. I know I wasn’t that love-obsessed when I was their age. Are humans just more carefree than ponies? She snorted, shaking her head. More carefree than a race that breaks into random musical numbers on a weekly basis. Never thought I’d see the day. “Um, Nichi-chan?” Sunset turned to face Yue, who hadn’t gone up to the waterfalls. “Hm? What’s up?” Yue pointed to the rest of the class. “We might have a problem.” Sunset raised an eyebrow and turned to look, only for her other eyebrow to join its sister. Everyone who had been drinking from the “marriage” waterfall was passed out in the street. “What the…” Sunset headed back to the waterfalls and filled a cup from the “marriage” stream. She took a quick sip, tasting the liquid before spitting it out. “Sake?” she asked incredulously. “Someone spiked the waterfall?” With half of the class passed out, it was decided that 3-A should retire for the evening. The drunken members were dragged onto a bus which took the class to their hotel. “I can’t believe this,” Sunset muttered as she relaxed in the room assigned to group six. “Pranks? That’s all that the Kansai rogue mages can pull off?” “Should you really be speaking so freely?” Setsuna asked. She was changing into a robe, preparing to head for the open-air baths that the hotel provided. “It’s not just you and me here, after all.” Sunset raised an eyebrow. “You really think that Zazie doesn’t know about magic?” The two girls looked over to their group-mate who was sitting on the floor reading a book. She glanced up and nodded to them before going back to her reading. Setsuna blinked a couple of times. “Ah.” She shrugged and pulled on her robe. “Well, all I can say is that they’re probably trying to avoid drawing attention from the main house of the Kansai Magic Organization. If they try anything big, it’ll probably be under the cover of night.” Sunset nodded, standing up and stretching. “Well, I’ll make sure to turn in as soon as possible then. The earlier I’m asleep, the more likely it is that I’ll be able to avoid whatever goes down. If Springfield can’t handle it, I’m sure big-sis Asuna can help him.” She began removing her own clothes as well. “I’ll join you in the baths in a minute.” Setsuna nodded and left the room. As soon as she was gone, Sunset turned and raised an eyebrow at Zazie. “And you’re just going to sit there?” she asked. “Not going to try to get involved or find out what’s going on.” Zazie looked up and cocked her head to the side, giving Sunset a look that said “Why is it any of my business?” Sunset shrugged. “Well, most people get curious about this sort of thing. Goodness knows anyone else in the class would be stalking us around to find out what was going on.” Zazie returned the shrug and rolled her eyes, her meaning clear. “I’m not the rest of the class. Don’t group me together with their antics.” Sunset frowned. “Okay, how do you convey all of that without saying a thing?” Zazie shot her a little smirk before returning to her book. “It’s a gift.” Sunset sighed and shook her head, pulling on a robe and leaving the room. I swear, if she and Celestia ever got together, they’d spend hours just smiling and nodding at each other and say more than the entire Canterlot Elite at the GGG. *** “...I give up. What in the world is happening here?” Sunset had heard a scream coming from the baths as soon as she’d left her room. She’d rushed down the halls, drawing her wand from her robe’s pocket. She’d thrown open the door to the changing rooms, preparing to do combat with whatever appeared. She hadn’t been prepared for a gang of tiny monkeys to be attempting to dog-pile Asuna and Konoka. The two girls had been in the middle of changing to enter the baths when the swarm had caught them with their skirts down. Setsuna and Negi stood at door leading to the baths on the other side of the room, expressions of bafflement on their faces which probably matched Sunset’s. “Don’t just stand there, Nichi-chan!” Asuna shouted, pulling a monkey off of her face and throwing it away from her. “Get these things off of us!” Sunset shook off her shock and ran into the room, putting away her wand as she did so; she didn’t want Konoka to know about magic just yet, and there was a far easier way to deal with these things. “Oy! Monkey head!” One of the monkeys bouncing on Asuna’s back looked up just in time to receive a kick to the face. “Stop treating my friends like a couple of trampolines!” The monkey went flying, smacking into the wall and vanishing in a puff of smoke, a small paper talisman taking its place and floating to the ground. The heck?! Sunset didn’t let herself question the phenomenon, focusing instead on helping to free Asuna. “AAAAH! NICHI-CHAN! SECCHAN! HELP!!!” Sunset and Asuna looked up, the last of the monkeys running away at Konoka’s cry. They joined the mass that had lifted Konoka and was quickly carrying her away. “Konoka!” Sunset reached for her wand, but froze as Setsuna rushed by, a katana held in her hand. She dove forward, sweeping low and slicing through all of the monkeys in a single swing. She slid to a halt, using her momentum to carry her through the ensuing smoke and catch Konoka in her arms. “Konoka!” Sunset ran up to check on her friend, Asuna and Negi following close behind. “Konoka, are you alright?” “Y-yeah,” Konoka said, staring up at Setsuna in awe. “Secchan, I really don’t understand the situation… but you saved me, right? T-Thank you!” Setsuna instantly blushed and looked away. “Ah, it’s nothing.” Without ceremony, she dropped Konoka in the bath and took off, running back inside the hotel. Sunset blinked, looking from Konoka to the hotel and back again. Her eyes eventually fell on Negi, who was looking at her like he was about to say something. Nope. Sunset turned and walked away, following the path that Setsuna had taken. Nope. Nope. Nope. Not getting involved. Those three have got this well in hand, and I don’t need to go sticking my muzzle- my nose in there. Just stay out of all of it. Stay out. Stay out. Stay out. *** “So, what were those things, exactly?” Damn it, Sunset!!! Setsuna sighed as she finished getting dressed in her gi. “They were shikigami: paper golems. They’re a common tool of Eastern mages.” “Golems?” Sunset’s mind turned back to Library Island and a few other golems she’d faced in Equestria. That’s so not what I’m used to. “So it’s definitely those Kansai mages?” Setsuna nodded. “Our enemies are Onmyou, charm-users who specialize in the use of shikigami and in summoning powerful warrior spirits to aid them, much like Western mages use partners.” “Warrior spirits?” Sunset asked, raising an eyebrow. “What sort of spirits are we talking about?” “Demons, of course.” Sunset instantly stiffened. “...demons you say?” Setsuna nodded, examining her sword and not noticing Sunset’s reaction. “Indeed. Which makes a member of the Shinmei-ryuu like myself well-suited to fight them.” Nodding in satisfaction, she sheathed her blade and took a stack of paper charms out of her pocket. “These should be able to keep any shikigami from entering this place. Once I place them, any mage wishing to interfere will have to enter personally.” “Good to know,” muttered Sunset. She shook her head and sighed, removing her robe and changing quickly into her pajamas. “Well, you sound like you’ve got a handle on things here.” “I wouldn’t mind having your hel-” “Nope!” Sunset all but threw herself into her sleeping bag. “I handled the last adventure; you and the dynamic duo can take this one. This Kanto-Kansai rivalry has nothing to do with me. G’night.” *** “...” “Mph. Huh? Zazie? What the heck are you waking me up for?” “...” “Hmph. They can handle it themselves. It’s none of my business.” “...” “How did you know- Oh nevermind. Yeah, they targeted Konoka, but Setsuna and the others can take care of it.” “...” “Prove myself? To whom?! The kid already knows that I’m almost at his level, and I’ve got nothing to prove to Setsuna or Asuna.” “... … …” “...damn it.”