Sunset returned home as dusk settled over Canterlot. Shutting the front door, she could hear the Lulamoons speaking softly in the kitchen. When she approached the kitchen door, she saw they were all seated at the island counter; Trixie looked very excited, while Selena had her lips pressed tight. Artemis looked over his shoulder at Sunset’s approach and smiled.
“Ah, there you are! Come in, come in!”
Sunset took the open seat next to him. “Am I going to learn what you guys were whispering about earlier?” A world map and a smaller map of Canterlot were laid out across the table.
“There’s nothing left to discuss,” Selena said firmly, glaring at Artemis.
“I care to disagree,” Artemis said. He tapped a part of the Canterlot map, and a shimmery image of Moondancer’s manor blossomed up, rendered in three dimensions. “To my confusion and… sadness, Moondancer, and possibly Night Shade, are working with Tempest. We cannot prove the latter, but we have no reason to doubt his involvement and many reasons to presume it. Either way, all attempts to contact him have failed.”
He tapped another part of the map, and Canterlot Tower sprung up. “Surveillance on their place of business has shown nothing unusual. There’s no trace of magic there. And while there are traces of magic around the manor, every time I go over, it appears to be deserted. And Selena won’t let me go inside.”
Selena held up a finger. “One, that’s breaking and entering. Illegal if you get caught.”
“If,” Artemis said under his breath.
She held up another finger. “Two, have you already forgotten what happened the last time you tried to get information from the enemy?”
Artemis looked at his fingers and flexed them. “No, I haven’t,” he said, like a child who had been told he couldn’t go outside. He perked up. “But, that leads me to my proposal!”
Selena groaned and cupped a hand over her face.
Artemis swept his wand across the table. Both the manor and the tower disappeared, replaced by a sparkling rainbow. “We don’t know how yet, but Tempest wants to bring Tirek back. Our best, foolproof counter is the Rainbow of Light. And yes, it has been lost to the ages!” He twirled his wand in his fingers. “But I’m feeling lucky.”
Selena moved her hand to her temple. “I’m not against looking for the Rainbow. I would just like to have a fall back plan in case you don’t find it.” Her eyes slid over to Trixie. “I also don’t approve—”
“But, Moooom!” Trixie whined. “It’s Trixie’s birthright! Father even says so! I’m almost eighteen, and school’s over! Trixie wants to go!”
Sunset looked between them. “Okay, I'm lost again.”
Artemis held his wand high. “It is a right of passage for every Lulamoon to go out into the world and search for our lost treasure! I did it, my father did it, his mother did it, and her father before her! So on and so forth for a few generations.”
“Right!” Sunset recalled what Apalla had said in the Soul Lock. Every Lulamoon had hoped to find the Rainbow that had been lost by their ancestor.
Selena sighed. “And I understand that. You know I do. I was with you for most of your own pilgrimage. I just… I don’t want my baby girl out there in the middle of who knows what—”
“But I’ll be with Father! And I’m getting better with my own magic! Mother, please!”
“Trixie—”
“I’m not a child anymore!”
“Well you still sound like one with all the whining you’re doing!”
Artemis whispered to Sunset. “As you can see, we’re at a bit of a crossroads here.”
“Where would you even go anyway?” Selena asked, snapping her head toward Artemis. “We turned the world upside down when we searching.”
“Not the whole world.” Artemis tapped the world map with his wand, and several points across multiple continents lit up. “Here are a few places where I’ve heard of potential new leads. Rumors and murmurings, nothing more, but anything is good at this point.”
Selena pressed her lips together until they were white. Sunset recognized the expression from her own mother, the first sign she was becoming aggravated.
“Fine, you have leads, as weak as they may be,” she said stiffly. “But, you’re still not offering another plan in the meantime. You know I hate putting all our eggs in one basket.”
“I mean,” Sunset said slowly, “my friends and I did summon some sort of powerful harmonic avatar at the Battle of the Bands. It shot a rainbow at the Sirens. Could that work?”
Artemis twirled his beard. “I considered that. But, what you have to understand, Sunset, is that the Rainbow of Light is divine magic. A gift from the gods themselves! If Tirek absorbs enough souls, the Rainbow of Light is the only thing that can stop him and set those souls free from their prison.”
Sunset nodded solemnly. “Well, hopefully he never makes it that far. But even then, a blast from us is sure to do something, right?” She quickly wilted under Selena’s heated glare, though Trixie’s enthusiastic thumbs up soothed some of the burn.
“I—am—not—sending—six—teenagers!” Selena said between her teeth, emphasizing each word. “To fight a demigod warlock!”
“I mean, they’re practically adults,” Artemis said gingerly.
Selena fixed her now blistering glare on him and made a growl in her throat that reminded Sunset of an Ursa Major. Artemis quickly pulled the rim of his hat over his eyes.
“Selena, listen,” Sunset said gently, making sure not to meet her eyes. “Outside of this room, my friends and I are the biggest source of magic around. Even if we didn’t want to get involved, at some point, we probably would. And if the world’s in trouble, and we have the power to make a difference, you bet we’re going to try. You’re not sending us to fight anything; we’d be doing it on our own.”
Selena’s voice softened. “Well, yes, but—”
“And this doesn’t have to be the end-all solution. We have time, I know we do. Maybe we can come up with something better. But, if Artemis and Trixie can find the Rainbow of Light, then none of us really have to face Tirek, right? And would you rather have Trixie facing him, or finding the Rainbow?”
Selena snapped her mouth shut. She drummed a finger against the counter, lips still pursed and cheeks slightly puckered. After a full minute, she exhaled and said, “Fine. Fine! Go look for the Rainbow of Light. It is a family tradition.”
“Yes!” Trixie leaped out of her chair and threw her hands in the air. “It begins! The Great and Powerful Trixie’s first death-defying adventure! Watch and be amazed as she does what her ancestors could not, and finds the Rainbow of Light!”
Artemis lightly ruffled Sunset’s hair. “I knew there was a reason we kept you.”
Sunset affectionately brushed his hand away. “Hey, I’m just hoping you find it so my friends don’t have to go up against him.”
Trixie rushed around the table and jumped up and down in front of Artemis. “So? When are we leaving? Where are we going first?”
“Well, we have to pack a few things and make a few arrangements. Say, day after tomorrow?”
Trixie made an excited squee and ran out the kitchen, passing a disheveled looking Lamia on the way. Her pixie cut hair managed to look a mess, and there was a grease stain on her night shirt.
“I just wanted to know if dinner was ready,” she said moodily.
Selena looked ready to unload any remaining animosity from the previous conversation onto Lamia. Sunset cut across the kitchen and took Lamia by the arm, making sure to only touch her sleeve.
“I’m sure it’ll be ready soon. Why don’t we give them some space?” She yanked Lamia out of the kitchen and halfway up the stairs before Lamia took her arm back.
“Oi, what’s with you?”
“What’s with you?” Sunset looked her up and down again, then scrunched her nose. At close proximity, it was evident Lamia hadn’t showered in a few days.
“Nothin’,” she said with a lazy shrug.
“This—” Sunset gestured at her “—does not look like nothing.”
Lamia slapped Sunset’s hand away, making sure to use her sleeve. “No one asked you.”
“Do you remember what I told you a few weeks ago?”
“Yeah, some more junk about friendship and believing in yourself, or the heart of the cards or whatever.”
Sunset shook her head. “I told you not to hold yourself responsible for Scarlet’s actions. They weren’t your fault.”
Lamia glared at her. “Have you ever killed someone?”
Sunset recoiled sightly. “Well, no, but I—”
Lamia was in her face, sunken eyes narrowed. “Well, when you do burn someone to ash, and then get the mental image out of your head, I’ll be all ears to anything you have to say.” She turned and matched up the stairs, and a moment later, Sunset heard the door slam.
She stood on the landing, lost for words and thoughts. Maybe the universal law of suffering didn’t apply just to her, but to every Sunset Shimmer. She carried onto her room, finding Spot asleep on her bed. He woke and wagged his tail at her approach.
“Hey, buddy. Have a nice, lazy day?” As she sat down, Spot climbed into her lap and reached up to lick her neck. Sunset idly scratched him behind the ear as she thought.
Maybe she had never killed anyone, but she had come close. She understood what Lamia was going through to a good extent, but if her doppelganger didn’t want to hear it, there wasn’t much Sunset could do. Maybe this was a hurt she wasn’t equipped to heal. She was no therapist.
She looked down at Spot. “Pets are therapeutic...” Sunset gave him a tight squeeze and carried him down the hall, setting him in front of Lamia’s door. “Be a good boy, okay?”
Spot looked at her, confused. Sunset pat him on the head, rapt on the door, then quickly retreated back to her own room. She heard the door open, a pause, the soft jingle of a collar, and the door close more softly this time.
She didn’t see Spot for the rest of the evening.
*******
Sunset had rarely been inside Trixie’s room. She would normally just knock on Trixie’s door to fetch her for lunch or dinner. But, Tuesday found Sunset lounging on Trixie’s bed as the latter prepared for her adventure.
Trixie’s room resembled Twilight’s, in that the walls were painted purple. But, instead of science posters and bookshelves, Trixie had posters of boy bands, famous magicians, and even one of herself giving a thumbs up with the caption, ‘You’re great!’ The one shelf she did have was stuffed to the brim with CDs and old headphones.
Trixie stood in front of her closet, rifling through her clothes. She pulled out two sets of clothes and turned toward Sunset. “Which do you think makes Trixie look cooler?”
“Shouldn’t you be packing, you know, practical clothing?”
“Trixie is! Looking cool while Trixie saves the day is completely practical!”
“I don’t think you know what practical means.”
“You’re such a buzzkill.” Trixie put the outfits away and rummaged some more. “Are you just mad because you don’t get to go, too?”
Sunset raised her hands behind her head and fell back across the bed. “Nope. I love a good adventure as much as the next person, but I want just a few weeks where I don’t have to worry about anything. Go have fun on your daddy-daughter adventure.”
“Trixie intends to. Just try not to be jealous when we find the Rainbow of Light.” Trixie pulled out a pair of worn jeans and a thick, wool shirt. She laid it on the bed next to Sunset, pulled out her wand, and cried, “Lulamoon!”
The articles of clothing wiggled and started to shrink down to a size for infants. Except, one of the shirt sleeves remained the same size, giving it a very lopsided appearance.
Trixie puckered her lips. “Lulamoon!”
The sleeve shrank down, but stopped at one size larger than the rest of the shirt.
“Hmph. Stupid shirt, how dare you make a mockery of the Great and Powerful Trixie! I’ll deal with you later!” She shoved the shirt and pants into her backpack.
Sunset sat up. “You sure you’re ready for this?”
Trixie put her hands on her hips and stuck her nose up. “Of course Trixie is! What do you take her for?”
Sunset could have said a lot of things, but decided she wanted her and Trixie to leave on good terms. “A great and powerful magician. Just, be careful out there, okay?
Trixie bent down and pinched Sunset’s cheek. “It’s cute that you’re concerned. But Trixie will be just fine. Try not to miss her too much.”
They spent the rest of the day together, and the family shared one last game night. Wednesday dawned, bright and sunny, and Sunset got dressed and headed downstairs. Two large backpacks sat next to the door, and Selena paced the living room, hands behind her back.
“Are you going to be okay?” Sunset asked.
“I…” Selena paused in her pacing. “I’m just…” She inhaled slowly. “They’ll be fine. I know they will be. I just can’t help worrying about them.”
She looked over at Sunset. “I knew Trixie was going to leave the house someday. Go on some wild adventure. That’s who she is. And I’m glad Artemis is going with her, but at the same time, when I pictured this day, he was staying here with me and… I’m glad you’ll still be here, Sunset.”
Sunset blushed and pushed a stray hair to the side.
Trixie and Artemis descended a few minutes later, dressed with their capes and hats. They slung their backpacks over their shoulders and lined up in front of the door, Artemis facing Selena, and Trixie facing Sunset.
A sudden lump formed in Sunset’s throat. This was all happening so quickly. Ever since she had moved in, Trixie had been a constant in her home life. Someone to bicker with, to fight over the bathroom, to beat at board games. Same with Artemis, not counting his brief capture by the Sirens. He had been the one to take her in, give her a warm and loving home. Now, they were both leaving for who knew how long.
Trixie smirked when she saw Sunset’s expression. “Aw, is Sunset going to miss the Great and Powerful Trixie? Yes, she does have that effect on people.”
Sunset rubbed her eye. “Shut up. I… I just realized how much easier getting the bathroom will be, since Lamia never leaves her room.”
“Well, don’t get used to it. Trixie will be back before long. Then, you can bask in her triumph.”
“Yeah, I can’t wait.” Sunset held an arm out, and to her surprise, Trixie flung both arms around her and squeezed affectionately.
Selena stepped forward and straightened Artemis’ collar. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“Of course, turtle dove.”
“You’ll call when you can.”
“Count on it.”
“Remember, you’re banned from Egypt.”
“We’re banned from Egypt.”
She tugged on his hat. “I’m not the one traveling.”
Sunset and Trixie broke apart. “What happened in Egypt?” Sunset asked.
“Nothing important,” Artemis said with an airy wave. “I’m sure most of the people have forgotten.”
“I sincerely doubt it.” Selena kissed him on each cheek, then on the lips. “Please keep our daughter safe.”
Artemis put a hand on Trixie’s shoulder. “She’ll be just fine.”
Selena swooped over and kissed Trixie on each cheek, then on the forehead. “Mind your father. And, make sure he doesn’t get into too much trouble.”
“Yes, Mother.” Trixie smiled and gave her an extra hug.
“Well, my little moon, it’s time to get going!” Artemis opened to door and led Trixie out. “Farewell family, farewell Canterlot! We shall return as soon as we can, Rainbow of Light in tow!”
They stopped on the front lawn, wands in hand. Sunset and Selena watched from the doorway. With the sun still cresting over head, Artemis and Trixie raised their wands skyward.
“Ready, Trixie?”
“Ready, Father!”
“On the count of three then! One, two, three!”
“Lulamoon!”
With twin columns of blue smoke that coiled around each other, the two of them vanished. The wind pushed the smoke away, leaving the neighborhood clear and quiet. Sunset wondered where they had gone first. Wherever it was, she hoped they stayed safe.
Selena made a sigh only an empty-nesting mother could make. Her face brightened a little when she looked at Sunset. “Well, I guess it’s our job to make sure things stay quiet around here. Come on, we’ll make some breakfast, then I’ll tell you what happened in Egypt.”
*******
Rainbow dribbled the ball down the grass, maintaining perfect control as she came up to the halfway point of the field. The wind brushing across her sweat drenched forehead kept her cool. Even the evenings in Canterlot were growing steadily warmer.
She drew her right foot back and gave the soccer ball a solid kick, sending it straight into the net she had set up. Throwing her arms in the air, she cried, “Another goal made by the incredible Rainbow Dash! The crowd is going wild!” She cupped her hands to her mouth and made hoarse cheering noises.
The field she was practicing in wasn’t very big. She hadn’t gone to Canterlot Park, just to a smaller one up the street from her house. It had a nice field for practicing her foot work, and a large tree she and Fluttershy used to climb when they were little.
Rainbow walked the rest of the field, now covered in shadows, to collect her ball. Another half hour or so, and she’d be ready to call it quits. She tipped the ball onto her foot, kicked it into the air, then started bouncing it on her knees.
“Oooh, she makes it looks so easy!” she said in her announcer voice. “Just look at that control! That’s a dedicated athlete right there!”
Bouncing it hard on her knee, she sent the ball skyward. She got on the other side of it, and when it came back down, she spun on her left foot and gave it a hard kick with her right. It shot straight into the net with such force, it looked like the fibers might snap.
“And she’s done it! Rainbow Dash has won her team the World Cup!” she shouted.
“Nice to see your soccer skills are better than your snowboarding skills.”
Rainbow jumped at the male voice behind her. She swung around, finding a familiar looking young man standing on the sidewalk, illuminated by the last light of day. He had blue skin two shades lighter than his blue hair, spiked and slicked back. His green eyes had a roguish twinkle in them.
“Wait a sec.” Rainbow squinted at him. “You’re that dork from the ski resort.”
“Hey, that’s harsh,” he said, though with his smile and tone, he hardly looked offended. “Glad your arm healed up at least.”
Rainbow gave her shoulder a roll. “Yeah, it’s good as new,” she said coldly. Deep down, she knew it wasn’t directly his fault she had tried to prove she was just as awesome on a snowboard as he was, leading her to crash hard. But, he still had an indirect hand in it. If he hadn’t been such a showoff, Rainbow wouldn’t have had to one up him.
“It’s Rainbow, right?” he asked, keeping his smooth and cordial voice.
“Rainbow Dash to you.”
He grinned and pointed a thumb at himself. “Well, Rainbow Dash, I’m Soarin, in case you forgot.”
“Forgot, yes. Care, no. I’d ask what you’re doing here, but again, don’t care.”
“Yeesh, you’re colder than the mountain,” he said, finally frowning. “Look, I’m sorry if we got off on the wrong foot, and I really am glad your arm is feeling better.”
Rainbow turned to get her ball from the net. “Yeah? Well… thanks, I guess.”
“You’re pretty good at soccer.”
“Pfft, I’m more than just good. I’ve got practically a full ride on scholarships thanks to my skills.”
Soarin whistled. “That’s actually really awesome. Congrats.”
Rainbow tucked the soccer ball under her arm and looked at him with less scrutiny. “All right, seriously, what are you doing here?”
Soarin put his hands in his jean pockets and took a few steps onto the grass. “I’m staying with my aunt and uncle for the summer before I sign up for the air force.”
“You wanna join the air force?”
“Yep. Wanted to fly ever since I was a kid.”
“No kidding?” Rainbow broke into a grin. “I thought about joining the air force, too. Flying always seemed like the coolest thing ever! I mean, I wanted to be a stunt pilot first, but Dad said no.”
“What changed your mind?”
Getting wings, Rainbow thought. “Dunno. Just decided it was better I keep my feet on the ground. How else am I gonna show the world my awesome abilities?”
Soarin chuckled. “I see you’re not lacking in confidence. Why don’t you show me more of these ‘awesome abilities’?” He took his hands out of his pockets and bent his knees.
Rainbow snorted. “You serious? What does a snow boy like you know about soccer?”
“Put the ball down and find out.”
Rainbow laughed. “Okay, ice pop. Let’s see what you’re made of.” She tossed the ball up between them. Before it had fully touched the ground, both of them went at it, their ankles connecting with the ball. It smashed between them, but Rainbow, with her deft control, used her heel to pop it over Soarin’s foot and carry it away.
Soarin proved quick on his feet though. As Rainbow ran the length of the field, he stayed right behind her, trying his best to wrest control of the ball. He found an opening as Rainbow turned to head toward the goal. With a slide of his foot, he kicked the ball off to the side, then spun around Rainbow and took control of it.
Rainbow gave an acknowledging “Hmph” as she ran after him, wresting control back and circling around him. Soarin pivoted on his heels and gave chase, running up to Rainbow’s left side.
Pulling a little ahead of her, Soarin kicked out with the back of his heel, just as Rainbow tried to turn the ball away. It ricocheted off her foot and hit the park fence. Both players bolted after it as the ball lazily rolled along the grass.
Soarin reached it first, and paid the price of having Rainbow’s foot collide against his shin. He dribbled the ball back toward the goal, a grin spreading across his face.
Rainbow made a full sliding tackle, knocking the ball clear from Soarin and using her arm to guard her face. Soarin stumbled over her and crashed face-first into the grass while Rainbow jumped to her feet to chase the ball down. She swiftly recovered it and returned to the goal, weaving around Soarin who was still getting up. With a swift kick, she sent the ball sailing into the goal.
“Well, you’re not terrible,” she said, scooping the ball up again.
“You’re not bad yourself,” Soarin said, wiping grass stains off his jeans. “Wasn’t expecting that.”
Rainbow tossed the ball up and began bouncing it on her knees again. “Trust me, you haven’t seen half of my arsenal of awesome!”
Soarin crossed his arms and grinned. “Well, maybe you can show me sometime on a real soccer field.”
Rainbow let the ball drop to the ground, then placed her foot on top of it. “Please, half field or full field, I could take you on. Name a time and place.”
“How about I text you instead?” Soarin pulled a phone from his pocket.
She knew full well what this was, and a loud part of Rainbow’s brain told her it would be better, and funnier, just to kick the ball into Soarin’s groin and walk away. But, she had been issued a challenge, and the louder part of her brain told her to never back down from a challenge. Besides, she could totally cream him.
“Fine, dork.” She snatched the phone out of his hand. “But just to warn you, on top of my soccer and track skills, I’m a red belt.”
Soarin held a hand up. “I’m not up to anything nefarious, I promise. Heck, it doesn’t even have to be a date if you don’t want it to be.”
“Mmhmm.” She handed it back and crossed her arms. “Summer break just started, so I’m free most of the time. Unless I’m hanging out with my friends.”
“Sweet.” Then, quick as lighting, Soarin struck his foot out and snatched the ball out from underneath Rainbow. As she struggled to keep her balance, Soarin kicked the ball up onto his knees, juggled it a few times, then gave it some air. As it came back down, he spun on his left foot and kicked it with his right.
The ball whizzed past Rainbow and straight into the goal.
Soarin held up a peace sign. “See you later, Rainbow Dash.” He turned and strolled out of the park, hands in his pockets.
Rainbow stared at the back of his head, looked to the ball sitting in the goal, then backed to Soarin. Something fluttered weakly in her chest.
“Awesome,” she breathed.