//------------------------------// // 30. Sunny Shimmy is a hero! (part 2) // Story: Magical Girl Sunny // by Jetto //------------------------------// Many curse words went through Sombra's head as he rushed through the hallways, but unlike his ring, they never held any power he could use. This can't be happening! How are there TWO of them? And how did they take away my power! Despite doing his research, he didn't stumble on a single mention of there being two Sunset Shimmers in any way, shape or form. It did strike him as odd when all social media posts had pictures of her in Canterlot High, but he brushed it off as a simple misdirection in case some sleuths were looking for her true identity. What he didn't know was that they (both Sunnies and their friends, including Police Captain) decided to delete any evidence of Sunny and Sunny Shimmy still has yet to make a MyStable account and had little to no reason to. Sci-Twi used her mad hacker skills (because not only Lemon Zest had those) to delete whatever evidence was there online to make sure it wouldn't bite any of them back. It would be the last time she was called "needlessly paranoid" for taking those steps, instead becoming "rightfully paranoid". He stopped his mad dash when he passed one of the classrooms where he left the door open. He noticed the daylight clearly visible from the windows. Of course the dome is gone too! He looked at the black ring, even knocked it against the wall a few times, but there was still no response. This can't be permanent, right? Cause if it is, I'm royally screwed on so many levels! He shook his head and kept going to the exit. I just need to get out of this place, go to the nearest safe house and it'll be fine! Sunny, any of them, won't catch up to me in their state! As long as I avoid the Shadowbolts, I should be fine! Nobody else even knows how I look! He ran towards the main entrance because it was the closest sure exit he could think of. From there it was just a matter of mixing into the crowds and rest was easy. He didn't stumble on anyone on his way and was very close to his goal, even saw the main gates, where some people from outside were already entering the premises. None of them were wearing Crystal Prep uniforms, so he assumed they were just civilians, lured by the weird dome that was there until just a moment ago. No turning back now! "HELP!" He yelled at them, summoning all his acting abilities to stumble like a terrified little kid. "Mo-monsters, they're attacking th-the school! P-please, help me!" This caught the attention of the newcomers, who were some high school girls. They looked at him, then at each other, nodded and went toward him. "It's okay there, we'll take good care of'ya... Sugarcube!" SMACK! And then she punched him straight in the face, sending him flying back on the ground. It was the second time his nose was broken today, but this time it felt way worse now that the armor was gone. His nose was straight up cracked at this point, blood was gushing way more than it should, his eyes were getting misty and everything hurt. But despite everything, he managed to stay conscious and sit up. The girl who hit him, a blonde with cowboy hat, massaged her fist as her gaze pierced his eyes. She seemed oddly familiar. "Don' think ya can get past us... Sombra!" His eyes went wide and a new wave of cold sweat went through his body. He was starting to remember. "Sunnies say hi!" A rainbow colored girl said as she joined her friend's side. She was shorter and thinner, but no less intimidating. Behind them were four more girls: a purple haired nerdy looking one, a puffy pink haired one who remained cheerful even now, unlike the other pink haired one who hid behind the elegant, also purple haired girl. Even combined they were not nearly as threatening as the two in the front, but they added to the numbers. He finally recognized them: the Rainbooms. He saw them on a lot of pictures with Sunny, though now he was no longer sure which one it was but it wasn't important right now. The ring was still not responding and he was not a fighter without it. The cowgirl and rainbow girl on the other hand... "We heard all about'ya!" The cowgirl said, cracking her knuckles as she started approaching him, unable to hide the disgust on her face. "An' we heard yer power's all busted!" "Smile while you can," the rainbow girl added, her slasher smile giving his earlier attempts a run for his money "cause you're about to lose a row of teeth in a moment!" Sombra crawled back, barely holding back from messing his pants, looking everywhere he could for salvation. The other four girls didn't go for him but covered the exit and would catch him in case he somehow slipped by the two vanguards. He hadn't noticed at first, but the glasses wearing girl had a single glove on her left hand. A very familiar one at that. He didn't know what to do with that knowledge, other than avoid her at all costs. As if I had any powers left to lose... "I recommend giving up, darling," the white skinned girl with fabulous hair said from afar "it won't stop Applejack and Rainbow Dash from beating you up, but it might soften their blows a bit!" Sombra didn't answer. For one, his throat was at the same time sore and filled with his own blood, but even if not, he wasn't ready to give up just yet. The ring wasn't working, he couldn't feel the power coming back in any way shape or form. He crawled back and kept hoping there was something he could use, when he suddenly remembered something. Of course, how could I forget! He turned around and got on his four, seemingly to escape, but it was actually to reach inside his pocket, so he could turn back to them and... "D-DON'T GET ANY CLOSER!" He yelled at the two girls approaching, pointing a handgun at them! Even if he never had a reason to use it, he made a conscious effort to keep a sidearm at him at all times, just in case. He witnessed way too many fall because they had no backup plan. He never thought this would happen to him, but he was sure glad to not be unarmed at this moment. If only I had't forgot about it when I had Sunny and Sunny in range, but oh well... He pointed the gun a bit at Applejack and Rainbow Dash. That alone stopped their advance, as the two planted their feet to the ground and looked at him cautiously. The girls behind him all got more cautious as well, covering their faces or slightly crouching. No answers for a gun on their end... good! He sighed with relief, but didn't dare to lower his aim as he stood back up on his two legs and wiped his nose. There's hope yet! "Don't get any stupid ideas," he threatened them as he slowly moved back, the corner he came from only a few meters away "cause I WILL start shooting!" But he didn't, not yet. They were at a clear stalemate and everyone knew it. If he missed his shot, he would've been done for – even without powers, the two in front seemed to be fast enough to catch up to him before he recovered from the recoil and shot again. And even if he did hit his target, the other would get to him and for all he knew about them, those two wouldn't be stopped by a single bullet anyway. They were friends with Sunny, both of them, so subverting expectations was something he expected by now. The fact that they remained stationary meant that they cared for each other to not risk getting anyone hurt, which was his only salvation. Once he went behind the corner, it was a long dash to the next exit point. Even a closed window would've been enough, all he had to do is shoot the glass and jump out, hoping for the best. This plan had holes (for example, he didn't know that the windows were all sound AND bullet proof), but he was too desperate to care. He didn't leave his eyes from the six Rainbooms as he went back around the corner. He was about to make a run for it, maybe shoot at them once in hopes it would stop them from pursuing, when suddenly something hit his arm, making him drop the gun on the floor. He grabbed his aching arm and watched as his gun slid on the floor, right next to the arrow that hit it. A-arrow? He turned back. The hallway wasn't empty anymore. "Hey, Shadow Boy!" Sour Sweet asked, holding a composite longbow, with an arrow pulled and aimed at him. "Remember us?" Right next to her were the other Shadowbolts. Indigo Zap was cracking her knuckles at him, Sunny Flare brandished her rapier, but it was the other two who concerned him, as they held their guns pointed at him. The same ones his henchmen were previously using. Even if he knew they only had anti-riot rounds in them and Lemon Zest didn't seem like she knew what she was doing with her assault rifle, it wasn't going to hurt less. "Where do you think you're going, punk?" Indigo Zap asked, making him backpedal back into the previous hallway. "You should consider giving up," Sunny Flare announced, stylishly pointing her rapier in his direction "so we will get bored of beating you up a bit faster!" "Harsh," Sour Sweet commented sourly, but shrugged and smiled "but true." Sombra wanted to turn away and run hoping their aim would fail, but the Rainbooms were waiting at the other end and approaching fast. He tried walking away from both groups, but only ended up backing himself into the wall. There was literally nowhere else to escape, except for a few locked classrooms. He ordered them locked to keep people from escaping Oh the irony... The two groups eventually noticed each other, smiled and nodded, the pink girl in the Rainboom side even greeted them loudly by calling their names, not that he cared at the moment. Still massaging his aching hand, he let out a huge, defeated sigh. "Well, at least this can't get any worse..." he lamented sarcastically to himself, when suddenly... "SOOOOOOMBRAAAAAAAAA!" The urge to bang the wall with his head intensified, all it took was one familiar scream. I just HAD to say it! From the other side of the hallway where the Shadowbolts had come from, came two more people, one carrying the other by her shoulder. They were slowly limping towards them, but despite her horrendous state, the less healthy Sunny was still somehow the more eager one to get there. "Sunny! Sunset!" The Rainbooms collectively exclaimed at their sight, with the Shadowbolts only slightly turning away to see them, but he still felt their sights were strictly on him. They moved aside to let the two Sunsets stand beside them. "You're still alive, I see." Indigo motioned to Sunny. "Obviously! Who the hell do you think I am?" Indigo chuckled. "One of us!" "Damn straight!" She laughed weakly, then glared at Sombra exclusively, making him sweat a lot more profusely. She shrugged herself from under the other Sunny and limped forward on her own. "So, to continue our previous conversation..." She raised her right fist at him. He swallowed and tried smiling sheepishly. "So, uhm... about the friendship thing...?" "That wasn't me," Magical Girl Sunny deadpanned at him "she might be the friendship ambassador in these parts, but me... I'm not that nice of a person!" She was going towards him slowly, with each step taking a higher toll at her than anyone realized, but he doubted she could be stopped. Not by him, at least. "Oh my god, Sunny!" The shy pink haired girl from the back exclaimed for the first time, as she rushed toward the wounded Magical Girl, stopping her advance. The other non-combat Rainbooms were right behind her. "You're hurt! We need to quickly treat your..." "I appreciate the concern, but I-" "No buts, you need to sit down and wait for an ambulance! Here, I brought a first aid kit!" "Fluttershy's right!" Rainbow Dash said as she went toward Sombra. "We got this, you rest up and leave it to us!" Sunny groaned, but couldn't advance not only due to Fluttershy's stare (she was the target for the first time and it wasn't pleasant), but also Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie blocking her way, with Rarity at her back. The Shadowbolts, as well as the other Sunset Shimmer, only exchanged shrugs and kept watching Sombra. As for Sombra, he leaned on the wall and sighed deeply, ready to accept his defeat. He considered making a run for it, but the bow, handgun and assault rifle aimed at him kept him stationary. Waiting around meant he was about to have his face smashed, trying to run meant being shot and pierced. He almost hoped Sunny would get to him first anyway – in her state the punch to the face would probably hurt a bit less but still knock him out cold. With any luck they wouldn't kick him while he was down... too much. As he was watching them, his eyes went especially towards the purple girl with glasses. She didn't look like someone who could fight, but the glove on her left hand intrigued him. The light from the halogen lamps reflected from its surface, making it seem like it was glowing, just like the one that took away his powers. ...wait a minute- it IS glowing! If it's reacting to magic and Sunny is drained, then... It just so happened that his left hand was caressing his right one, still slightly aching from getting disarmed by an arrow shot. He kept massaging it out of habit, not realizing that this habit was developed over the years while he was trying to hide the ring from anyone who watched him. And the ring was starting to glow in a familiar, faint shadows. The powers are coming back! He took a deep breath, using all his willpower to keep his expression hidden. He looked up at the situation: Sunny was still demanding to get the last shot (I saw him first! was her argument), while the Rainbooms successfully kept her away. Even Applejack and Rainbow Dash stopped on their tracks when she scowled at them. The Shadowbolts and other Sunset looked at the whole thing with mild irritation (though he couldn't tell what the triple-tailed girl was feeling), even if they were still ready to shoot him at the slightest provocation. He took a breath as a plan started hatching inside his mind. I just need to buy some time! He stepped away from the wall, donned a defeated, weak (and fake) smile, still holding his hand and massaging it as he was previously. As expected, everyone's attention turned to him and he was a little closer to getting shot. As he predicted. "Relax, I'm not going to resist anymore. I know when I'm defeated." Everyone looked at each other, giving him a few precious seconds. The power was coming back, but he needed a little more, so he kept his weak smile up. "I wasn't supposed to do it, but what do you say we... bargain?" A few eyebrows were raised. Notably, the Shadowbolts were not buying it and neither was Sunny (the magical one). It didn't matter. "I'll still give up and go to jail or wherever you put me, preferably with my bones and all teeth intact." He stopped there. Every second counted and making them ask was one way to get them. "And what do have to offer?" Sunny, the non-magical one (though at this point he wasn't sure about that part), asked. "Information." "...information?" This got their attention, especially Sunset Shimmer, who walked forward and stood besides Sunny and others. "On what?" Sombra sighed. His powers were almost there. "The others, of course. You didn't really think I was working alone?" "You said you didn't know anyone else with powers," Sunny Flare said "until you saw Magical Girl Sunny, that is." He shrugged. "I lied. We promised to keep the existence of 'The Group' a secret. And I was going to keep that promise, but hey, desperation set in and I'd rather deal with them later, than with you now!" "Who is 'them'?" Sunset Shimmer asked. All attention was on Sombra and any stupid moves he was going to make. "Wouldn't you like to know?" He chuckled. "So, do we have a deal?" Then there were murmurs. The Rainbooms were divided on this, sharing their opinions in a hushed voice around each other. Aside from Sunny Flare, the Shadowbolts didn't participate in the conversation, all too ready to jump in and end this whole charade. They were waiting for their main member to make a decision for them all. And she did. "Are you done?" Sunny Shimmy asked, walking through the Rainbooms to close their distance. "Cause I was done listening to your crap a long time ago!" Sombra could only chuckle in response. "Oh well. You will regret this decision later." Sunny kept waddling forward. "If you have anything interesting to say, I WILL hear it. Once you're behind the bars. In full-cast. Eating through a straw!" He shook his head. "That's not what I was referring to." As soon as he said that, suddenly... "IEEEEEEE!" Twilight Sparkle screamed from behind her, all eyes now on her. They watched her reacting with panic at the dark entity that just appeared on her left arm, just slightly below the glove. The thing went around her arm then shot into the floor and like a rubber-band, pulled Twilight down, making her fall on the ground with a loud thud! "TWILIGHT!" Almost everyone shouted, and those who did not went back to Sombra. Holding his right hand up, ring glowing with the familiar, old power, he smiled. I won't be defeated by THAT thing again! At the same time, Sour Sweet let go of her arrow, while Sugarcoat and Lemon Zest pulled on their respective triggers... but nothing happened. Sour watched the arrow get stuck to the bowstring, and the two triggers didn't budge no matter how hard they pulled. One look at all of them revealed the same, barely visible, black goo-like energy on them. "GET HIM!" Indigo Zap shouted and rushed at Sombra on her own, but was immediately joined with the others. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Sunny Flare and Sunset Shimmer rushed along. If any of them reached him it would be the end, but he was ready for them. He formed a fist with his right hand and waited for them to get a little closer, then he swung his hand outward, creating a powerful shockwave that caught all the attackers and sent them flying at the walls. He wasted no time and shot several dark beams at all the fallen fighters, each entangling on their target. While this was happening, Sour Sweet, Sugarcoat and Lemon Zest all fell victim to their own weapons, as the shadows that prevented them from using them grew in size and completely immobilized them, just like when they failed to protect Coco. Then he captured Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy, who were in the middle of either freeing Sci-Twi or at least taking off the glove to use it themselves, but they were too late and ended up entangled on the floor with the others. Even Sci-Twi got her other hand stuck to the ground too, just to be sure. The only one left was Magical Girl Sunny: too weak to rush with the others, lucky enough she wasn't in the range of the shockwave and too slow to get tangled with any other group. She couldn't do a thing as she helplessly watched her friends being taken out one by one, until she was the last one standing. The hero and villain watched each other in the eyes again. "Turns out it really ends between the two of us... Sunny!" Sunny swallowed and assumed a stance, the best she could do in her state, with a broken arm. Sombra didn't wait long, quickly shooting a few knife-like constructs her way, which she barely jumped away from. He continued sending more things her way, each time getting closer to hitting her, with one shard in particular grazing her thigh, making her fall on the ground, right on her face and presumably her broken hand, if her scream was any indication. "DIE ALREADY!" He shouted, raising his ring up and conjuring a giant, several feet large hand, then slamming it right at her! The ground shook from the giant hand colliding with the floor, the echo drawing out all the screams from the other girls who watched her vanish under the attack, holding her hand to shield herself. A few seconds passed. The giant hand was still lying on the ground where Sunny last was, no sign of movement. No blood dripping from under it. D-did I get her? He thought to himself, breathing heavily, afraid to dissolve the giant hand to see her somehow surviving it. He watched the shadow tracing from his ring to the impact zone, noticing something else on the ground. A shadow getting smaller and darker... that didn't belong to him! He immediately raised his head and his eyes widened. He saw her, Magical Girl Sunny, falling from the high ceiling of Crystal Prep hallway. Sh-she teleported? Not only that, her gaze was strictly at him, while her right fist was glowing brightly, almost burning, as it got closer to his face, less with her own diminished strength and more on momentum from falling alone. He immediately cut off the power of the giant hand and raised his ring at her, shooting a string of darkness at her, but narrowly missing her face. "SUUUUUNNNYYYYYYY" She screamed in mid-air, as her fist caught on flames. "PUUUUUUUUUUUNCH!" She was getting closer to his face and couldn't be stopped, until... ...she suddenly stopped! Her hand swung just before his face, then the flames let go, officially burning out the rest of the fumes she had. She was the last to notice the magic connecting the jacket she was wearing to the ceiling, strung like a puppet on a string. She tried to shake out of it or at least strike him as she were, both maneuvers proving beyond her powers! With one more movement of his hand she was slung back on the ground, then she he felt the darkness envelop her entire body, until she was in a complete straitjacket made out of magical shadows, complete with a blindfold and a gag! Sombra breathed heavily. Everywhere he looked there were trapped girls in the shadows, unable to get themselves free, not allowed to even talk. He counted everyone, just to be sure. Six Rainbows, including one with the magical glowing glove, immobilized so she wasn't able to touch any of the shadows. Five Shadowbolts, away from their weapons or any sharp objects they could use. Two Sunnies, both completely pacified and within his view. "Ha... haha... buahahahahaha!" The laughter lasted for a long while, but not long enough for anyone to set themselves free, no matter how much they tried. Sunny tried to muster a few more fumes to at least burn away the shadows. All the times she thought she was out of power she had proved herself wrong, what was one more time? Impossible, is what it was. Sombra stopped laughing when he ran out of breath, then he sighed deeply, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He looked at the main entrance to the school, just in case there was a sniper or someone who could stop him. There wasn't anyone and there was no sign of anyone using it. "I... I really thought I was a goner for moment!" He said in between heavy breaths and started walking toward Sunny, the magical energy on his ring turning into a long, sharp wrist blade. At the sound of his steps Sunny started struggling harder, but it made no difference. "Wanna know the sad truth? If your friends had just let you get to me instead of caring about your well being, that would've been it for me. I'll let that little fact sink in." He chuckled, as a whimper of few Rainbooms could be heard "That was fun, if a little scary. If it's any consolation, I won't do anything to your friends... right now. But I won't promise the same if they decide to hunt me for revenge or something." "Although..." he mused to himself, stopping right before Sunny, looking to her side. "The fact that there's two of you really caught me off-guard..." Sunny's struggling intensified even more, now she was screaming something through the gag, but he wasn't sure if it was just another round of hard insults or pleading. Or both. "...so just in case I should get rid of both of you. I mean, you never know. Also, I know you're gagged, but I should still ask you- do you have any last words?" "Just one!" A familiar voice behind him said. "Wha-" He raised an eyebrow and started turning around, when... BONK! He didn't finish even the first word, let alone the sentence, when everyone heard someone falling on the ground. They didn't have time to wonder what happened, as the shadows holding them back started evaporating at the same time, freeing their limbs and removing the gags and blindfolds. Sunny couldn't stand up anymore due to exhaustion and her wounds, but she managed to raise her head just high enough to see Sombra, lying face down on the ground, unconscious and shadowless! Right behind him stood a tiny girl in a disheveled, sweat soaked Crystal Prep uniform. Coco Pommel was here, breathing hard, still trying to catch her breath after the adrenaline rush and everything she had to go through. Breaking the door open with her limited body mass was hard enough. Running down was the easy part, until she reached the front gates, guarded by fire fighters who took over the absent police forces duties and didn't let anyone inside. She wasn't stopped by that and instead ran around the school until she found an open window on the first floor. It took some time, effort, a few falls even to climb inside the empty classroom, but once inside, she heard them, which was not only Sunny, Sombra and the Shadowbolts, but even the Rainbooms, clearly through the door. Sombra was lying over the wall right next to the door, it seemed. He seems to be out of magic, somehow, she thought, listening to the entire conversation. Her heart skipped a beat, but in a good way, as it looked like they won! She wanted to run out and join her friends, but she opted against it. If I walk out... if I distract Sunny and others, he could use it to his advantage... maybe? Or not...? No, she... they suffered enough because of me! And it turned out to be the right call, but for the wrong reason. Everything went south, starting with the scream from Twilight Sparkle. She couldn't see much through the keyhole, but she definitely saw darkness flying around and heard a few of her friends scream and then get quickly silenced. After some commotion, there was a long stretch of nothing, then laughter. His laughter! This was her cue to open the door without getting heard. She went outside, but not before grabbing the nearest object with her. It took time, the patience of a saint and surviving the strongest heartbeats she had so far, but she did it! Magical Girl Sunny almost accepted that she would never see her best friend ever again, but she was once again happily wrong! She was looking at her right now, holding a magical ring of shadows tightly in one hand, as well as a small, slightly dented fire extinguisher in the other. She was breathing heavily, but as soon as their eyes met, she smiled widely through her tears. And she wasn't the only one. Shimmy chuckled, finally allowing her guard to go down. "My... hero..."