//------------------------------//
// VI. The Time of Reckoning 
// Story: Power And Seduction 
// by Milliardo5 
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Sunset made her way towards school quickly on that day. Behind her, Sonata also quickened her pace just to keep up. Sunset was determined to get to school early and meet up with Pinkie and Photo Finish before school starts. Sonata was trying to catch her breath as she walked.

“Can we slow down a bit?” she asked Sunset. Sunset paused for a moment to let her catch up as well as get some rest herself. She also needed to get her bearings before getting to school, she figured.

“We need to get to school as early as we could,” she said to Sonata as soon as she caught up. “This is the day, and we just can’t let Inspirio get to be President.”

“Will others be convinced though?” Sonata asked. Sunset also wondered about that. So far there were only few of them in this, and not even most of the Rainbooms had so far caught on to Inspirio, even though they were supportive to her.. Still, it was a lonely crusade for her, but she was still determined to try. Even if she had to go it alone, she knew that what was important was to let the school know who Inspirio really is and what danger he might pose.

“I hope they do,” Sunset said to her. She knew it wouldn’t be easy though, as so far people were convinced that Inspirio was the one who could best lead. However, she already saw enough of his personality to know that it had all been a deception. She didn’t know how to blow his cover though without making her look bad. All she knew was that he had to be stopped, somehow. In that sense then she made up her mind to do it today.

“The recording might be the key?” Sonata asked her. Sunset nodded. 

“If we can only get many people to hear this…” Sunset said, though she wondered how to herself. Pinkie would be there as well along with the recordings. She knew that she could count on her to always be around. The two of them made their way to the central yard of the school, where events were often held. The day before, a stage had already been set up for the day’s event.

Sunset looked around for a good place to set up herself. She noted that the stage had a wooden wall erected at the back. She went around it and found a good hiding spot. She also saw that the sound system had all been set up as well. 

“Looks like everything is set then,” she said with some satisfaction. She still wasn’t sure where to exactly place herself though, or even Pinkie for that matter. She scanned the area and found a wooden crate nearby, possibly one of the crates that housed the speakers. She took the crate and hauled it off behind the stage. It wasn’t exactly a perfect hiding place, but then she could stay almost unnoticed there. She figured Pinkie could fit in as well, if they just squeezed in a bit.

“Hope this works,” she then said to Sonata. “You go sit with the crowd. We’ll just wait for Pinkie to finalized things, then get the plan going.” They really didn’t have to wait long, as soon Pinkie came hurriedly. 

“Got here as fast as I can,” Pinkie said to them as she approached. “The recordings are here as well,” she added as she handed the small USB drive to Sunset. 

“This would be perfect,” Sunset nodded to her. “Sound system is all set up, so we’d better get this thing hooked up as well.” They went to the sound booth just beside the stage. “Hope Vinyl doesn’t mind while we insert this little baby in,” she said as she put the dive to the USB slot of the PC there. She then turned it on, and had her smartphone sync with it.

“Hope it works,” Pinkie said, a little worried.  

“It should. I could control the sound system from my phone and play the recordings,” Sunset explained. “At least long enough for me to play them.” After a few more seconds, she gave a relieved smile.

“I think that worked out well,” she announced. She then looked around, realizing that people would soon be arriving at school. “Guess we better finish setting this up then,” she noted quite grimly. They then went to their places after that. Sunset was still worried if things would work out well. Pinkie noticed her worried look and put a hand on her shoulder, smiling at her quietly. She smiled back, though she could still feel the tension as the minutes went by.

The students soon started entering the school. The three of them could hear the noise of people walking, talking and going through the hallway. Sunset wondered whether they should go to their classes or just wait, since the assembly would take place soon after the first period has ended anyway. She finally decided to just wait at her place, and realized Pinkie and Sonata also had decided to wait with her. She smiled faintly at that, thankful for them for sticking it out with her. 

Pinkie just then went over to her to talk and keep her company. Without words spoken, Sunset nodded, grateful that she came over at her place.  Pinkie might not be serious at all times, but at those times that are needed, she’s always there. The minutes went by agonizingly as they waited for the first period to end. Finally, after what seemed like a long period of time, it was over and they could hear the students coming out of their classrooms and headed towards the central yard.

“Here they come. Get ready,” Sunset told Pinkie, and then motioning to Sonata to do the same. She was still tense, but was now a bit more confident that they could pull this off than she did earlier. She peeked from behind the stage wall to see Inspirio walking between the two sets of chairs that had been placed earlier for the students to sit in. He strode in with confidence, she noted. She could see that he seemed confident that the win was his. Just behind her a more timid Sophia followed.

The event was made as a final run-up before the elections that would take place that afternoon. It was Principal Celestia’s idea to have the students know more about the candidates. It was made especially for those who weren’t still decided as to who they would vote for. In reality though, most students figured it would be a good time for them to get some break from classes. Since the event had an indefinite length of time, some had already figured to draw it out by asking questions.

The two main candidates for President then climbed up the stage and took their respective seats. Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna then also came, as the place started to fill with students who then looked for their own seats. The two went up the stage together with the candidates and took their seats on stage. People still kept coming, and the four of them waited patiently while the whole school settled into the area.

Sunset and Pinkie decided to come out of their hiding places and took a seat near the stage. Sunset figured that she could control the computer through her smartphone, though she cursed herself for not testing it before.

Not that it would matter now, she thought as she brought out her phone and held it nervously. She figured it would be an all-or-nothing gamble, and they had one shot to do it perfectly. She then noticed Vinyl Scratch make her way to the booth to take care of the audio.

“Can we override the computer/” Pinkie whispered to her. Sunset could only shake her head.

“Forgot to test it,” she admitted, still cursing at herself inwardly for not thinking of it at once. “Let’s just hope that we can do that when the time comes.” She said that tersely, since she knew that anything could go wrong along the way. Pinkie looked around and noticed the other Rainbooms seated to the other section across them. The others didn’t notice them though, since their attention were all on the event that was to start soon.

Which is just as well, Sunset thought. She really didn’t want to engage them just yet. She turned her attention back to the event, which would soon about to unfold. At that moment Principal Celestia stood up from her seat as soon as she noted that the students had all settled in. She made her way to the podium that was placed at the center of the stage. 

There was a palpable anticipation from the students gathered, and most especially from Inspirio himself. He sat with an almost unnoticeable smug look on his face, though Sunset could already see through his deception. Pinkie as well, since she also knew of what he actually thinks. In contrast, Sophia only sat silently. She wasn’t at all certain what would happen, and Sunset’s heart went out to her.

“Welcome, students,” Principal Celestia began when all have settled down. “This might very well be our first to have something like this, but we do have a rather interesting run for the Council President this year.” Inspirio just smiled when Principal Celestia mentioned it. “I have let you all gather here in order to know what each candidate has to say before you vote, as well as somehow persuade those who might not be sure yet.”  

The students all buzzed with excitement. Inspirio couldn’t contain his excitement as he was getting ready to stand up. Sunset at that moment also took her smartphone and began to press at the screen, getting ready to put her plan into motion.

“I won’t keep you waiting any longer,” Principal Celestia then announced. “I don’t think I will have to introduce him, as he will surely tell more about himself.” She then nodded towards Inspirio, who then rose from his seat and walked up to the podium. He took a few seconds to take it all in, looking over at the students gathered with anticipation. At almost the same time Sunset was ready to press on her smartphone, hoping it will work.

“My fellow students…” Inspirio began, but before he could add anything else, he could clearly hear his voice over the speakers. The students all looked baffled and flustered at what they were hearing. It was Inspirio, but the tone of the voice was different. This wasn’t the friendly student that handed out campaign goods in the hallway. His voice was more menacing, more sinister.

“I will have this school under me, one way or the other!” Inspirio’s recorded voice said, the one that he said to Sunset earlier in the week. Now the whole school was really agitated, and even both Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna didn’t know what to do. Inspirio just stood there, at first rooted to his place. Slowly his face began to twist in anger, and his eyes glared at the audience, searching as to who could possibly be doing it.

Finally his gaze fell on Sunset. He remembered some of the things he said to her, and now his demeanor had changed. Angrily he looked at her, and Sunset folded her arms and stared back at him.

“You!” he screamed, pointing at her at the same time. He then walked off the podium and began to go down the stage, going straight for her. Sunset stood up, ready to face him in front of all the people.

“You will not ruin my chances!” he said to her, anger all over him. “I have the school in mind hands, and I will not let you get in the way!” Sunset didn’t speak as he was now just in front of her. She remained calm, her arms still folded. She knew even then that she had won. “You really think you’ve won, right? You forget that the school hasn’t forgotten what you did!” He said that in a haughty voice.

“I don’t think I even have to say anything,” Sunset replied to him coldly. Inspirio stopped and looked around. All of the school were looking at him, shocked at what they were seeing. Realizing what was happening, Inspirio flew totally into rage.

“I will win! I will be the President! You will not stop me!” He screamed like that at Sunset, but she maintained her cold demeanor at him.

“You’ve lost, Inspirio,” she informed him. “You just showed your true self now. All you ever cared for is power.” Inspirio didn’t reply at once. After a few seconds of silence, he began to laugh.

“You play good, Sunset Shimmer,” he said, a bit more calmly now. “You know that you’re no different from me. You also want power as much as I do. Am I right about it?” Sunset didn’t say a word though. Inspirio then shook his head.

“You have this round, Sunset Shimmer,” he said to her. “But you will see things my way, as you always were meant to be!” He looked at her again, and then at the silent assembly, then walked at the center off the aisle as he stalked off. Vice-Principal Luna was about to stop him but Principal Celestia caught her arm and just shook her head.

Through it all, Sophia sat trembling at all the commotion. Sunset meanwhile sank back to her seat, exhausted. Pinkie took her hand and held it, and both of them smiled. By now the whole assembly was talking, surprised by what they had just witnessed.

“Well, I guess we have to help her,” Sunset said to both Pinkie and Sonata, who now went over to join them, pointing out to Sophia. They could see that she was still motionless in her seat. Principal Celestia went to the podium to restore order to the assembly. 

“Well, looks like we now have the only remaining candidate after that turn of events,” she said, though everyone knew the conclusion to that. Sunset nodded over to Sophia when that was announced, and shyly she went over to Principal Celestia’s side.



“That was a gamble that you took,” Applejack to Sunset said after the assembly was over. All of the Rainbooms were now gathered around her.

“I just couldn’t shake the feeling that something is off with Inspirio,” she said to them.

“I did hear what he said to you,” Applejack pointed out. “You know it can still happen.” Sunset also wondered about it. She knew that she couldn’t just take that part of her away. Craving for power might always be with her. She just had to know how to handle it when the time comes.

“Well, we’re here in case it does,” Rainbow Dash assured her. Sunset didn’t say anything though. She wondered if she can even handle her own self. She had enough to take on for one day, let alone a week, and she’d rather not dwell into it just yet.

“We’ll be ready when that time comes,” she assured them.

“Of course we will, darling,” Rarity chimed in. Sunset wanted to be confident, though she also knew that there was something more that she wanted as well…



That night, as usual she wrote into her journal. As she sat in bed, she wondered what it really meant to crave for power and glory, and if it was at all a bad thing. She knew that it was part of having ambition, and she knew that there was much that she would like to do. Could she really reach for her goals without giving in to the same power and glory that Inspirio wanted? She was troubled by that, and thought of what it would mean for her and for the Rainbooms if ever that time came. She was lost in thought, as she reflected on her life so far and where it would take her.