//------------------------------//
// Interlude I 
// Story: Chronicles of the Spectrum 
// by Blue_Thunder 
//------------------------------//

"Hmm... If you want answers, you'll have to beat them out of me. I'll be in the track field after school every day this week until 6. You have until I leave on the final day to come at me with everything you've got." He stood and left his tray. "Don't disappoint me. Oh, and be sure to tell your Spectrum Speedster those little details." Shade walked off and seemed to dissolve from sight.

Silence reigned for a few minutes. "Magic from Equestria?" Sunset asked. Everyone nodded.


~~~~~~~~~


Sunset looked at his forgotten tray. "Hmm..." She touched it and got a flash of memory.

"This is for the memory reader. I have a clue, though you already know what it is by now. Having dissolved before your very eyes, you no doubt believe I have magic from another world, much like you 7. The question becomes, 'What magic does he have that lets him disappear like that?' Better do some research."

"Girls... This guy is on a whole other level from the ones we fought against before. He's already thought ahead and told his tray a message meant for me. He knew I'd try and see its memory."

"How could he know you'd do that?" Twilight asked. "Has he been keeping tabs on us for that long?"

"I think so..." They all looked around for any sight of the guy, and they found nothing. "Well, he's gone now, so..."

"I guess the main question is... Who wants to go first? It's monday now, and there are seven of-"

"Hold that thought. It's true we are seven-strong, but how many of us can actually fight with our power?" Rarity asked.

Sunset thought for a few moments. "You make a good point... I know Rainbow would fight. I will too. Just to see how far I can go."

"Ah want a round for mahself." Aj held up her arms. "Ah got some strong hits, surely one o' them's gonna connect."

Rarity and Fluttershy shook their heads. Twilight also waved her hand in rejection. "Anyone else? Pinkie?"

"I could try. Remind me to bring extra hard candy to the party."

"Then it's you, me, Aj, and Rainbow. And for the last day, let's all gang up on him. That'll give us the time to learn his style and come up with a counter measure. Twilight and Rarity, can you two make it anyway? Your eyes are the most perceptive in the group and you might see something that gets away from us."

"Absolutely," Rarity said. "I look forward to the venture."

"Great. I'll see about getting Rainbow to bring her camcorder," Sunset said. She stood up from the table and walked off with her and the newcomer's tray.

"Alright, Twi. Odds of success?"

"What makes you think I've been calculating odds?" The others look at her. "Okay, I have, but it's tough to discern. We know he can make illusions of himself, and we should assume he can do it to other things as well. He was able to sit on the chair, so the illusion still has a solid form. He'll still have to put the effort into his illusion to make it fight-worthy. Sadly, we don't know his ability in combat yet, but I'll do some digging. See what I can find in his background."

"We have a name, too. Shade Walker. Told us what it was before Sunny's video."

"Alright. As for realistic odds... slim to none. He can manipulate reality. We might not even be up against him at all, and just swinging at air. Optimistically, though, we have a shot. If we can discern what's giving him this power and neutralize it, we stand a chance."

"What are the odds of it being Equestria magic, like Sunset said?" Fluttershy asked.

"Pretty high up there, considering no one can dematerialize like that on their own." Twilight stood. "I'll go get started. See you all after school."

The others waved. "Ah guess Ah'll be goin' too. Gotta get focused on the match for today." Aj stood and departed as well.

One by one, the remaining people left the table. Fluttershy walked by the garbage and looked at the stack of trays. One of them disappeared right in front of her. Shade's tray was an illusion as well.